Presented by Alice Maranga
DEFINITION CONT. The term FGM was adopted 1990
at the third conference of the inter- African Committee on traditional practices affecting health of girls and women in Addis Ababa
DEFINITION Female genital mutilation, also
called female genital cutting, refers to the removal of all or part of the female genitalia.
DEFINITION CONT. UNFPA declared February 6th
International Day Against FGM In 1991 WHO recommended UN to adopt the terminology FGM to Reinforce the idea that this practice is a violation of human rights of girls and women
FGM/C AS PRACTICED IN KENYA KDHS 2008-2009 Somali Kisii Masai
Embu Kalenjins
Meru
97.6 96.1 73.2 51.4 40.4 39.7
FGM/C AS PRACTICED IN KENYA KDHS 2008-2009 CONT. Kamba Kikuyu Luhya
Luo Others
22.2 21.4 0.2 0.1 38.9
PREVALENCE It is practiced in 28 countries of sub
Saharan Africa, some parts of Western Asia and has spread to other parts of the world, such as Europe and North America, where some immigrant families have now settled. (Burkina Faso, Central Africa,
FGM/C PRACTICE CONT. Republic of Cote Divoire, Djibouti,
Egypt, Eritrea, Ghana, , Guinea, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Kenya, Indonesia, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, united Kingdom and US.
PREVALENCE CONT, Some 3 million women and girls
face FGM/C every year, while some 100 to 140 million have already undergone the practice.
PREVALENCE CONT, Studies indicate significant
geographic variations in prevalence rates, from over 90% in Guinea, Egypt, Mali and Sudan, over 80% in Ethiopia and Eritrea, 37% in Kenya and down to 5% in Benin and Niger
PRACTICE OF FGM/C Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is
a cultural practice that started in Africa approximately 2000 years ago.
Types of FGM/C Type I Excision of the prepuce, with or
without partial or total excision of the clients Type II Excision of the clitoris with partial or total excision of the labia minora
Types of FGM/C Type I Excision of the prepuce, with or
without partial or total excision of the clients Type II Excision of the clitoris with partial or total excision of the labia minora
Type III Excision of part or all of the
external genitalia and stitching/ narrowing of the vaginal opening (infibulation) Type IV unclassified Introduction of corrosive, substances( Dilute H2SO4), Use of bitter herbs, Scratching, Slicing
Normal female external genitalia and female external genitalia with the tip of the clitoris excised (Type 1-FG Normal genitalia
Excision of the fold of skin above the clitoris with the tip of the clitoris
Normal female external genitalia and genitalia with excision of the prepuce, clitoris and labia minora(Type II- FGM)
Normal genitalia
Excision of prepuce, clitoris and labia minora
Normal female external genitalia and infibulated genitalia (Type III-FGM) Normal genitalia
Infibulated genitalia
Unclassified Type iv
EFFECTS OF FGM
SHORT TERM EFFECTS Profuse Bleeding, Excruciate pain, Anemic, Fainting, Death, Urine retention and
Infections Long Term Keloid formation, Dyspareunia, Infertility, Difficulty in delivery, Vesico Vaginal fistula, Recto Vaginal fistula, Infections, HIV/AIDS, Menopause issues, Ectopic pregnancies
PRACTICE CONT, It is primarily a cultural practice,
not a religious practice. But some religions do include FGM as part of their practices. This practice is so well ingrained into these cultures, it defines members of these cultures.
PRACTICE CONT, In order to eliminate the practice
one must eliminate the cultural belief that a girl will not become a woman without this procedure.
Medicalization of FGM/C The involvement of medical personnel in
the performance of FGM/C is often referred to as “medicalization” of the practice.
Medicalization cont, While it is thought to decrease the
negative health consequences of the procedure, UNICEF believes medicalization obscures the problems related to FGM/C, and prevents the development of effective and long-term solution for the abandonment of the practice
Reasons for the practice Most often, women cite custom and
tradition as a main cause for their support of the practice. Religious demands, cleanliness/hygiene, virginity/morality, and better marriage prospects.
Complications Immediate: excruciating pain, shock, urine
retention, ulceration of the genital regions and injury to the adjacent tissue.
Complications Other complications include septicaemia
(blood poisoning), infertility and obstructed labour. Haemorrhaging and infection have caused death
Is it a religious practice FGM does predate Islam, but most Muslims do not
practice this. FGM was also practiced by Falasha (Ethiopian Jews). The remaining FGM societies follow traditional Animist religions.
FUNCTIONS OF THE CLITORIS If God has created the clitoris as a sexually
sensitive organ, whose sole function seems to be the procurement of sexual pleasure for women, it follows that He also considers such pleasure for women as normal and legitimate, and therefore as an integral part of mental health 48.
