Obstetric Complications Due to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) at N’Djamena Mother and Child Hospital (Chad)

Lhagadang Foumsou^1*, Richard Norbert Nglalé², Jeanne Fouedjio³, Gédéon Ndakmissou¹, Bray Madoué Gabkika¹, Sadjoli Damthéou¹, Philip Njotang Nana³, Abdoulaye Sépou²

¹Department of Gynecolgy and Obstetric, Faculty of Human Health Sciences, University of N’Djamena, N’Djamena, Chad.
²Department of Gynecolgy and Obstetric, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bangui, Bangui, Central African Republic.
³Department of Gynecolgy and Obsteric, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon.

DOI: 10.4236/ojog.2015.514110                

Abstract

Background: Female genital mutilation (FGM) or female circumcision is all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genital organ or other injuries to the female genital organ whether for cultural or any other non-therapeutic reasons. Female genital mutilation causes numerous complications. Four in such cases multiplies obstetric complications. The aim of this study was to identify obstetric complications due to FGM. Patients and Material: We conducted a comparative prospective case-control study for three months, from January 1^st to March 31^st, 2014 in the maternity of N’Djamena Mother and Child. It focused on identifying neonatal and/or maternal complications during childbirth due to FGM. The study population consisted of pregnant women at term admitted for delivery labor. All parturients had to present the same sociodemographic and clinical profiles. A history of FGM was the main distinguishing criterion. Results: During the study period, we recorded 312 births to women with genital mutilation, among 1905 deliveries, representing a prevalence of 16.4%. One hundred ninety-one cases of circumcised women responding to the inclusion criteria were selected. Most of these women were between the ages of 20 and 29. The extreme age group was 15 and 39 (with a mean of 24.5 years). FGM was significant in age group over 20 years (Khi² = 10.8; OR = 2.6 [1.4 - 4.9]; P = 0.001). The type II of FGM which removed a part of the clitoris and the adjacent labia minora represented 64.40% patients in the group of women with FGM. Perinea laceration was the frequent maternal complication among parturient with FGM (Khi² = 9.8; OR = 2.2 [1.4 to 3.6]; P = 0.0007). FGM type III was associated with a high proportion of maternal complication (Khi² = 11.2; OR = 7.3 [1.97 - 31.6]; P = 0.0001). Still births were significantly higher in the group of parturient with FGM (11.5%, P = 0.015). Conclusion: Female genital mutilation is a common cultural practice in our country; it contributes to worsening maternal and fetal complications.

Keywords

Female Genital Mutilation, Childbirth, Maternal-Fetal Complication, N’Djamena (Chad)

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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