Female Genital Mutilation: health related problems among the Somali Community in Garissa Town,Kenya (2002)
This study is a Descriptive research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics:
Author(s): Elmi Major Mohammed Yussuf
FGM/C Type(s): All
Health area of focus: Health related problem of FGM among the Somali.
Objective: To evaluate the health related effects of female genital mutilation among the Somali community in Garissa town.
Study Population: The Somali community
Findings: 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 xi 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
Geographical coverage
Region(s):Eastern Africa
Country(ies):Kenya