PREVALENCE AND COMPLICATIONS OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION AMONG PATIENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN TEACHING HOSPITAL, BENIN CITY.

Authors

  • A. J ADEWOLE
  • E. O ADAYONFO

Keywords:

Prevalence, complication, female, genital, mutilation

Abstract

 

The high prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), also called female circumcision, continues to be worrisome; especially in view of its complications. It has very negative effects on the reproductive, physical and mental health of the victims. A questionnaire consisting of items from the Demographic and Health Survey and the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey was administered on 300 consecutive female patients attending the General Practice Clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. Genital examination was also carried out on them. The prevalence of FGM was 64% while the prevalence was 39.7% for the children of the respondents. FGM was significantly associated with genital scar, keloid and cyst. Vagina discharge was also significantly commoner among those who were circumcised. Pain during sex and recurrent dysuria were commoner among the uncircumcised; sexual satisfaction was commoner among the circumcised; recurrent vulva abscess, dysmenorrhoea and difficulty getting pregnant were commoner among the circumcised; although these were not statistically significant. The reduced prevalence of FGM among the children of the respondents may be an evidence that the society is gradually doing away with FGM; but still high enough to warrant sustained efforts at its prevention.

 

 

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Almroth, L., Bedri, H.A., Elmusharaf, S., Satti, A., Idris, T., Hashim, M.S (2005b). Urogenital complications among

girls with genital mutilation: A hospital based study in Khartoum. African Journal of Reproductive Health.

:127–133.

Araoye, M.O. (2004). Subject selection. In: Araoye MO, editor. Research methodology with statistics for health and

social sciences. Nigeria, Nathadex Publishers. 115-121.

Cheryl, C. (2005). Cultural practice or reconstructive surgery? U.S. genital cutting, the intersex movement and

medical double standards. In: James M, Claire C, Robertson, editors. Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press. 126–151.

Dattijo, L.M., Nyango, D.D. & Osagie, O.E. (2010). Awareness, perception and practice of female genital mutilation

among expectant mothers in Jos University Teaching Hospital Jos, North-Central Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Medicine, 19(3):311-315.

Demographic and Health Survey and Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey. FGM prevalence among women aged 15-49 by country. Available at URL: http://www.unfpa.org/gender/fgm2007/documents/fgmpress_upda.

Accessed 25:11:2011.

Elnashar, R.A. & Abdelhady, R. (2007). The impact of female genital cutting on health of newly married women.

International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics. 97:238−244.

Ezenyeaku, C.C., Okeke, T.C., Chigbu, C.O. & Ikeako, L.C. (2011). Survey of women’s opinion on female genital

mutilation in southeast Nigeria. Annual of Medical Health and Scientific Research, 1(1): 15-20.

Family health department, Federal Ministry of Health of Nigeria. (2007). Elimination of female genital cutting in

Nigeria. Available at URL: www.afro.who.int/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=

Accessed 17:01:2017.

Morison, L., Caroline, S., Gloria, E., Katie, P., Beryl, W., Rosalind, C. et al. (2001). Long term reproductive health

consequences of female genital cutting in rural Gambia: community-based study. Tropical medicine and

international health. 6(8):643-653.

NDHS. (2013). Female Genital Cutting. Available at URL https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR293/FR293.pdf.

Accessed 19:1:17

Nour, N.M., Michels, K.B. & Bryant, A.E. (2006). Defibulation to treat female genital cutting. Effect on symptoms and sexual function. Obstetrics and Gynecology. 108: 55−60.

Okonofua, F.E., Larsen, U., Oronsaye, F., Snow, R.C. & Slanger, T.E. (2002). he association between female genital cutting and correlate of sexual and gynaecological morbidity in Edo State Nigeria. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 109(10):1089-1096.

Onuh, S.O., Igberase, G.O., Umeora, J.O., Okogbenin, S.A., Otoide, V.O. & Gharoro, E. P. (2006). Female genital

mutilation: knowledge, attitude and practice among Nurses. J Natl Med Assoc. 98(3): 409-414.

Osifo, D.O. & Evbuomwan, I. (2009). Female Genital Mutilation among Edo People: The Complications and Pattern

of Presentation at a Pediatric Surgery Unit, Benin City. African Journal of Reproductive Health.13(1):17-25.

Snow, R.C., Slanger, T.E., Okonofua, F., Oronsaye, F. & Wacker, J. (2002). Female genital cutting in Southern urban and peri-urban Nigeria: self- reported validity, social determinants and secular decline. Tropical Medicine and International Health. 7(1):91-100.

Thabet, S.M. & Thabet, A.S. (2003). Defective sexuality and female circumcision: the cause and the possible

management. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research. 29:12−19.

WHO document. (2007). Female genital mutilation. Available online at: http://www.who.int/re productive-health/fgm/. Accessed 30:11:2016.

WHO. (2008). Eliminating female genital mutilation – An interagency statement – OHCHR, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNECA, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNIFEM, Available at URL: whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2008/97892415 96442_eng.pdf. Accessed 7:01:2017.

Downloads

Published

2017-02-26

Issue

Vol. 20 No. 1 (2017): AFRICAN JOURNAL FOR THE PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDIES OF SOCIAL ISSUES

Section

Articles

License

Copyright is owned by the journal.