WHAT IS FGM? Female genital mutilation defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as all procedures which involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia and/or injury to the female genital organs, whether for cultural or any other non-therapeutic reasons. Basically FGM is performed with a razor blade on girls between the ages of four and 12, traditionally without anaesthetic.
TYPES OF FGM.
According to several researches there are mainly three form of FGM. The Clitoridectemy,excision and infibilation
CLITORIDECTEMY
This is the partial or complete cutting of the clitoris, the most sensitive part of the genitals. On rare occasions, only the fold of skin around the clitoris is cut, which is called the prepuce. The person who is performing the circumcision pinches the Clitoris the cuts it of with a razor blade and then proceeds to the Clitoral gland and cuts it off
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EXCISION
this involves the removal of the Clitoris, labia minora and labia majora (inner and outer vaginal lips)
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INFIBILATION
this process is the most severe and complicated FGM process. This process involves the total removal(cutting) of the external part of the vagina, then the vaginal opening is being narrowed by sewing together both sides of the vulva and a little space(around 2-3mm) is left for passage of urine and menstrual flow.
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REASONS FOR PERFORMING FGM.
It helps to curb infidelity and keep them as virgins until marriage.
As an initation to womanhood by some cultures
In various communities the external genital are seen as dirt and cut off to promote hygiene
Other cases seen as a perquisite for marriage by the custom of the pepeople
WHERE DOES IT ORIGINATES FROM?
although a conclusive information on where and how FGM originated has not been found but some traces have been linked to the Egyptian mummies that sshows characteristics of FGM.
WHAT AGE IS FGM DONE?
This varies from different traditional beliefs in some cultures it is done some days after birth of the child, some believe days before marriage, after birth of first child, during the period of the first pregnancy. But majority of FGM is carried out from. The age 0-15 years of age.
EFFECTS OF FGM?
FGM is said to give both physical and psychological damage to those who have gone through the process. Some of the effects are scars, trauma, due to damage to the female sexual organs,
sexual intercourse can result in the laceration of tissue, which
greatly increases risk of HIV transmission, The same is true
for the blood loss that accompanies childbirth and also affects sexual performance(dry sex) and divorce on the long run
WHERE IS FGM PRATICED?
a greater number of this practice comes from Africa (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia,Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali,
Mauritania, Niger, NIGERIA, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and Zambia. Certain ethnic groups in Asian countries practice FGM, including in communities in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
CONCLUSION
There is need for abolition of this unhealthypractice. A multidisciplinary approach involving legislation, health care professional organizations, empowerment of the women in the society, and education of the general public at all levels with emphasis on dangers and undesirability of FGM is paramount.
Sign the Change.org petition to end female genital mutilation https://www.change.org/petitions/end-fgm-now-protect-girls-from-getting-cut-and-support-victims-of-female-genital-mutilation-in-the-usa
REFERENCES
END FGM US https://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/may/16/what-is-female-genital-mutilation-circumcision-us
FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION. WIKIPEDIA https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_genital_mutilation
Ann Med Health Sci Res. 2012 Jan-Jun; 2(1): 70–73. doi: 10.4103/2141-9248.96942