Female Genital Mutilation: health related problems among the Somali Community in Garissa Town, Kenya.
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Date
2003
Authors
Elmi, Major Mohammed Yussuf
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Abstract
Female circumcision or Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a tradition since antiquity
and its exact origin is unknown. The spectrum of these genital procedures has been
termed as female circumcision and more frequently FGM as a collective name
describing several types of traditional female circumcision. According to the World
Health Organisation (WHO), FGM is a form of violence against girls and women with
serious physical and psychological consequences on health and must be abolished
entirely. FGM is a deeply rooted cultural practice and most of the adherent
communities consider WHO version as Eurocentric and cultural imperialism.
Circumcision of girls and women among the Somali community in Garissa is almost
universal
Despite the widespread practice of FGM among the Somali community in Garissa
District, no previous study had investigated health-related effects that should be
associated with this practice.
A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in Garissa town Kenya between
January and March 2002 to evaluate the health related effects of female genital
mutilation among the Somali community in Garissa town. A total of 250 respondents
were interviewed and nine focus group discussions (FGD) were held comprising of
90 participants in total.
Some 99.6% of the respondents in this study were circumcised and the majority
(94%) were circumcised at the tender age of 0 - 10 years. FGM appeared hazardous
to health, as the majority of the study population (63.5%) had developed health
problems after circumcision and there was a significant relationship between number
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of health problems and type of circumcision (X2 = 12, P::;0.05). However, there was
a dramatic shift from the traditionally preferred type of circumcision, namely
infubilation, to a milder type of FGM, the clitoridectomy adopted by most of the
respondents (42.2%) compared to only (24.1%) who had undergone infubilation.
Education had played an important role in this change of attitude from infubilation to
clitoridectomy and there was a significant association between education level of
respondent and the type of FGM preferred (X2 = 9, P< 0.05)
Despite education and health problems associated with FGM some 67.6% of the
respondents wanted FGM to be continued and believed it had some benefits.
Eradication of FGM did not appear easy and achievable in the near future but there
was a change from harmful type of FGM to the relatively harmless type,
clitoridectomy. Most of the respondents (52%) preferred the Islamic Sunna type,
which involved the removal of the prepuce of the clitoris and was as harmless as the
male circumcision. The study has contributed to a deeper understanding of health
related effects of FGM. Modification and or elimination of FGM is an all around effort
Othat involves legal, social, political and economic measures. The immediate efforts
should focus on information, education, and communication in order to facilitate
change in the society's attitude towards the practice.
Description
Masters-Department of Community Health, 80p. March 2003, GN 484 .E4