TITLE:
Survey Study of Acute and Long Term Effects of Female Genital Mutilation among Women in Sharkia Governorate
AUTHORS:
Essa M. Arafa, Amany M. Abdelghany, Nadia M. Madkour, Wael S. Nossair, Ekramy A. Mohamed
KEYWORDS:
Female Genital Mutilation, Female Circumcision, Sexual Satisfaction
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.4 No.14,
October
21,
2014
ABSTRACT: Objective: The aim of this
study is to evaluate the acute and long-term effects of female genital
mutilation (FGM) among women in Sharkia Governorate. Method: This was a
cross-sectional descriptive study carried out in Zagazic University Hospital
(ZUH) over a two years period from January 2012 to January 2014. The overall
sample consisted of 1500 women. An interview was utilized to collect the necessary
data. The questionnaires were administered face to face, in Arabic language.
Four open and 25 close-ended questions were used to collect socio-demographic
data of the sample: women’s experience about the circumcision, occurrence of
health hazards after circumcision, and sexual effects on married women.
Intention of all women (circumcised or not) to circumcisetheir daughters was also documented.
Results: This study revealed that the prevalence of FGM inSharkia Governorate was about 85.5%.
The majority of circumcised women were Muslims (94.4%), married (87.9%),
housewife (81.4%), illiterate or with low education level (45.5% and 38.5%
respectively) and from rural areas (82.2%). The most common types of FGM were
type I (49.2%) and type II (50.8%). The most common motive of FGM was the
religious cause (46.6%). The majority of circumcised women (59%) denied the
occurrence of any acute complication. The reported acute complications in this
study were bleeding (19.6%), urine retention (2.3%), infection (6.3%) and
difficult walking (12.8%). The majority of circumcised women (86%) denied the
occurrence of any problems at labor related to circumcision. The reported
problems at labor in this study were narrowing of introitus (8.4%), laceration
(0.7%) and bleeding (4.9%). In this study, 74.6% of circumcised women believed
that there was no effect of circumcision on their sexual satisfaction and 92.1%
of circumcised women believed that there was no effect of circumcision on their
husband’s sexual satisfaction. Approximately 16% of circumcised women
complained of dyspareunia and believed that it was related to circumcision.
Conclusion: Female circumcision is deeply rooted in our community and laws
alone will not eradicate it. Moreover, this approach may drive it underground.
Increased media coverage, statements by ministers, religious leaders and
non-governmental organizations may lead to increased discussion of the topic at
a local level. Spreading the message by means of pictures, song and drama as
well as economic development will be more effective.