Female Genital MutilationFemale Genital Mutilation

FGM FGM

What is FGM ?What is FGM ?

• Female Genital Cutting are all Female Genital Cutting are all procedures involving partial or total procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female removal of the external female genitalia, genitalia,

• or other injury to the female genital or other injury to the female genital organs, whether for cultural or other organs, whether for cultural or other non therapeutic reasonsnon therapeutic reasons

What are some of the What are some of the consequences of FGM?consequences of FGM?

• infectioninfection

• tetanustetanus

• bleedingbleeding

• tearing during child deliverytearing during child delivery

• keloid formationkeloid formation

• risk of HIV infectionrisk of HIV infection

Why does FGM occur?Why does FGM occur?

• A traditional rite of passage/ part A traditional rite of passage/ part of initiation into adulthood.of initiation into adulthood.

• power inequalities and the passive power inequalities and the passive nature of women to dictates of nature of women to dictates of their communitiestheir communities. .

Justifications for FGM are:Justifications for FGM are:

• A custom and tradition A custom and tradition • religious; it is a religious requirement religious; it is a religious requirement • preservation of virginity preservation of virginity • social acceptance for marriage social acceptance for marriage • Hygienic and a cleanliness practiceHygienic and a cleanliness practice• increases sexual pleasure for the male increases sexual pleasure for the male • family honour family honour • a sense of belonging to the social group a sense of belonging to the social group • enhances fertility enhances fertility

Consequences of FGMConsequences of FGM

•Can have short-term and Can have short-term and long-term health implicationslong-term health implications

Short term health implications Short term health implications include:include:

• severe pain and shock severe pain and shock

• infection infection

• urine retention urine retention

• injury to adjacent tissues injury to adjacent tissues

• immediate fatal hemorrhagingimmediate fatal hemorrhaging

Long-term implications entail:Long-term implications entail:

• extensive damage of the external extensive damage of the external reproductive system reproductive system

• uterus, vaginal and pelvic infections uterus, vaginal and pelvic infections • cysts and neuromas cysts and neuromas • increased risk of Vesico Vaginal Fistula increased risk of Vesico Vaginal Fistula • complications in pregnancy and child birth complications in pregnancy and child birth • psychological damage psychological damage • sexual dysfunction sexual dysfunction • difficulties in menstruation difficulties in menstruation

ConclusionConclusion

• In Kenya, estimated prevalence rate In Kenya, estimated prevalence rate of FGM is 38%, and the prevalent of FGM is 38%, and the prevalent forms are clitoridectomy and forms are clitoridectomy and excisionexcision