Medicalized Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: Contentious Practices and Persistent Debates (2018)

This study is a Exploratory research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics: Author(s): Kimani,S. & Shell-Duncan,B. FGM/C Type(s): All Health area of focus: None. Objective: This study summarized key debates and critically assessed supporting evidence. Study Population: Relied on DHS nad MICS Findings: Most medicalization happens in Africa,but health professionals all over the world have been asked to perform FGM/C. It’s not clear if medicalization is slowing down the decline of FGM/C or not. Safety concerns are one reason for medicalization,but they aren’t the only one. By getting health professionals involved in the fight to end FGM/C,both the supply and demand sides of medicalization can be addressed. However,this raises ethical concerns about having dual loyalty. During ongoing debates,different rights claims need to be dealt with. Summary debates that divide people haven’t led to much progress. There is need for everyone to work toward the same goals of protecting the health and well-being of girls who live in places where FGM/C is still practiced,and more open and informed conversation is encouraged. Geographical coverage Region(s):Western Africa,Eastern Africa,Middle Africa,Western Asia,Northern Africa Country(ies):Benin,Burkina Faso,Cameroon,Central African Republic,Chad,Côte d’Ivoire,Djibouti,Egypt,Eritrea,Gambia,Ghana,Guinea,Guinea-Bissau,Iraq,Kenya,Mali,Mauritania,Niger,Nigeria,Senegal,Sierra Leone,Sudan,Togo,Tanzania,Yemen Source

September 8, 2023

Men facing the Ablation/Female Genital Mutilation (A/FGM): cultural factors that support this tradition (2014)

This study is a Descriptive research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics: Author(s): Ismael Jiménez Ruiza ,María del Mar Pastor Bravoa ,Pilar Almansa Martíneza ,Carmen Ballesteros Meseguera FGM/C Type(s): All Health area of focus: None. Objective: In the present study we intend to identify the male perspective on A/FGM in order to increase the cultural understanding of the factors that support this practice Study Population: men Findings: The inclusion of male perspectives about the mutilation of female genitals provide us with a different point of view that gathers the most used argumentations to defend the practice,but which also gives a higher level of reflection about the complex cultural net that entails A/FGM. Likewise,through the analysis of these perspectives,we can conclude that: • Men who defend the practice understand A/FGM as a generic care,as far as it anticipates certain “necessities” of women • Sexual and religious factors are the most recurrent when defending this tradition. • A/FGM plays an important role in the maintenance of polygamy. Which denotes a mainly androcentric character in the motivations for perpetuating this practice. • Most of the arguments used by men to defend A/FGM are potentially refutable. Geographical coverage Region(s):Southern Europe Country(ies):Spain Source

Men’s and women’s perceptions of the relationship between female genital mutilation and women’s sexuality in three communities in Egypt (2010)

This study is a Exploratory research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics: Author(s): UNDP/UNFPA/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research,Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction FGM/C Type(s): All Health area of focus: None. Objective: To understand and document local concepts and experiences of sexuality among Egyptian women in relation to FGM,and to investigate the links between FGM and marriageability,gender roles and sexual pleasure Study Population: Women,Men,Grandmothers,Traditional Birth Attendants,Community Leaders Findings: The study found that the support for FGM/C was deeply rooted in people’s mind,and the major motivation was a belief that FGM was a necessary and effective way of ensuring women’s virtue. It was believed that women’s sexual desire resided in the clitoris,and that by cutting it,women’s sexual desire would decrease. This was believed to be a necessary and useful measure to ensure premarital virginity and marital faithfulness. While FGM was not considered a direct prerequisite or necessity for marriage,it was believed to strengthen girls’ prospects indirectly through its expected effect on sexual virtue Geographical coverage Region(s):Northern Africa Country(ies):Egypt Source

Men’s Perception towards the Abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation (Cutting) in Kenya (2014) (2020)

This study is a Descriptive research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics: Author(s): M Mwaila FGM/C Type(s): All Health area of focus: None. Objective: aimed at examining men`s perception towards FGM abandonment in kenya Study Population: men and women Findings: FGM awareness was higher among men(98%) compared to women(97%). 90% of women and men support abandonment of FGM. More young men were in favor of abandonment than older men. Geographical coverage Region(s):Eastern Africa Country(ies):Kenya Source

Men’s perspectives on the relationship between sexuality and female genital mutilation in Egypt (2013)

This study is a Exploratory research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics: Author(s): Mawaheb T El­Mouelhy,R Elise B Johansen,Ahmed R Ragab,Amel Fahmy FGM/C Type(s): All Health area of focus: None. Objective: To address men’s perspectives on the relationship between FGM/V and women’s sexuality in Egypt with the purpose of studying how men and women see a relationship between FGM/C and sexual life Study Population: Women,Men Findings: Men saw FGM/C as the key to ensuring women’s sexual morality, and considered FGM/C as the key to controlling sexual relationships. Men were reported to increasingly take part in the decision-making about daughters’ FGM/C. In men’s view, FGM/C reduced female sex drive and thereby kept girls chaste before marriage and women faithful during marriage. Men wholeheartedly supported FGM/C for these reasons. However,  others  were  ambivalent  due  to  a  concern  that  the  practice  might  have negative  consequences  on  their  own  sexuality  as  a  consequence of a negative effect on  their wives sexual  feelings Geographical coverage Region(s):Northern Africa Country(ies):Egypt Source

Mental health problems associated with female genital mutilation (2015)

This study is a Descriptive research regarding III FGM/C with the following characteristics: Author(s):  Knipscheer,Jeroen; Vloeberghs,Erick; van der Kwaak,Anke; van den Muijsenbergh,Maria. FGM/C Type(s): III Health area of focus: None. Objective: To study the mental health status of 66 genitally mutilated immigrant women originating from Africa Study Population: Women Findings: A third of the respondents reported scores above the cut-off for affective or anxiety disorders; scores indicative for post-traumatic stress disorder were presented by 17.5% of women. Type of circumcision (infibulation),recollection of the event (a vivid memory),coping style (avoidance,in particular substance misuse) and employment status (lack of income) were significantly associated with psychopathology. Clinical implications A considerable minority group,characterised by infibulated women who have a vivid memory of the circumcision and cope with their symptoms in an avoidant way,reports to experience severe consequences of genital circumcision. Geographical coverage Region(s):Western Africa,Eastern Africa,Northern Africa Country(ies):Somalia,Sudan,Eritrea,Sierra Leone Source

Midwifery training needs identified when caring for women with female genital mutilation (2016)

This study is a Explanatory research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics: Author(s): Leye Els FGM/C Type(s): All Health area of focus: Obstretric. Objective: Study examined the experiences and needs of midwives in low and middle income countries (LMIC) and high income countries (HIC) with the aim of providing evidence for educators and policymakers. Study Population: peer reviewed primary research literature published from 2004 to 2014 Findings: The findings identified a lack of technical knowledge,limited cultural competency and sociocultural challenges to the abandonment of the practice. Midwives requested professional education and training,a working environment supported by guidelines,responsive policy and community education. The study also indicated a paucity of research on the practice and needs of midwives (in particular for LMIC) and few intervention studies that provide insights into strategies to support midwives in preventing FGM. Finally,no recent research could be identified focusing on FGM in humanitarian crisis settings. Geographical coverage Region(s):Not specified Country(ies):Not specified Source

Midwives’ Experiences in Providing Care and Counselling to Women with Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Related Problems (2013)

This study is a Exploratory research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics: Author(s): Elisabeth Isman,Amina Mahmoud Warsame,Annika Johansson,Sarah Fried,Vanja Berggren FGM/C Type(s): All Health area of focus: Care and counselling. Objective: To elucidate midwives experiences in providing care and counselling to women with FGM related problems. Study Population: Midwives Findings: The main findings of the present study were how midwives are challenged by culture and religion when providing FGM counselling. The most prominent challenge is the perception that FGM is an important part of the culture and from this point of view the midwives work is apprehended as interfering and subverting the Somali culture. Having personal experience of FGM emerged as a benefit when counselling women. Geographical coverage Region(s):Eastern Africa Country(ies):Somalia Source

Midwives’ experiences of caring for women during childbirth who have undergone female genital mutilation: an interpretative study (2008)

This study is a Exploratory research regarding III FGM/C with the following characteristics: Author(s): Garvey-Graham Annette Marie FGM/C Type(s): III Health area of focus: Obstetrics. Objective: To capture the experience of a small group of midwives,caring for women who have undergone FGM Type III,during the childbirth experience. It focuses on the feelings and experiences of the midwives during the process of labour and birth Study Population: Midwives Findings: The study recognised there are many different possible interpretations with midwives ‘telling their story’,and identifies issues that they encountered in providing care for these women. Four themes were identified in the midwife’s experience: ‘feeling unprepared’,‘negotiating the cultural gap’,‘the traumatic reality of deinfibulation’ and ‘tensions and paradoxes’. These reflected the journey of the midwife through their experiences and the challenges they faced Geographical coverage Region(s):Australia and New Zealand Country(ies):New Zealand Source

Midwives,traditional birth attendants (TBAs) and the perpetuation of female genital mutilation (FGM) in the Sudan. (2003)

This study is a Exploratory research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics: Author(s): Magied,Ahmed Abdel,Hagir Al Musharf,and Insaf Adam FGM/C Type(s): All Health area of focus: N/A. Objective: To explore the perception,attitudes and practice of the different groups of health providers for making appropriate recommendations relevant to the process of abolition of FGM practice in the Sudan. Study Population: Midwives,Traditional Birth Attendants Findings: All 100 of the respondents; Midwives and TBAs,randomly selected from Khartoum State perform one or more types and/or forms of FGM. Mathematical extrapolation of the results on their practice in three months show that the registered Midwives and TBAs of Khartoum State only perform 71055 mutilations every year. Such figures are seriously alarming Geographical coverage Region(s):Northern Africa Country(ies):Sudan Source