Female genital mutilation/cutting in The Gambia: long-term health consequences and complications during delivery and for the newborn
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Authors
Kaplan, Adriana
Forbes, Mary
Bonhoure, Isabelle
Utzet, Mireia
MartÃn, Miguel
Manneh, Malick
Ceesay, Haruna
Issue Date
2013-06-17
Type
Article
Language
en_US
Keywords
Female Genital Mutilation , Cutting , The Gambia , Sexual and Reproductive Health , Africa
Alternative Title
Abstract
Background:
Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is a harmful traditional practice deeply rooted in 28 Sub-Saharan African countries. Its prevalence in The Gambia is 76.3%. The objective of this study was to gain precise information on the long-term health consequences of FGM/C in The Gambia as well as on its impact on delivery and on the health of the newborns.
Methods:
Data were collected from 588 female patients examined for antenatal care or delivery in hospitals and health centers of the Western Health Region, The Gambia. The information collected, both through a questionnaire and medical examination, included sociodemographic factors, the presence or not of FGM/C, the types of FGM/C practiced, the long-term health consequences of FGM/C, complications during delivery and for the newborn. Odds ratios, their 95% confidence intervals, and P values were calculated.
Results:
The prevalence of patients who had undergone FGM/C was 75.6% (type I: 75.6%; type II: 24.4%). Women with type I and II FGM/C had a significantly higher prevalence of long-term health problems (eg, dysmenorrhea, vulvar or vaginal pain), problems related to anomalous healing (eg, fibrosis, keloid, synechia), and sexual dysfunction. Women with FGM/C were also much more likely to suffer complications during delivery (perineal tear, obstructed labor, episiotomy, cesarean, stillbirth) and complications associated with anomalous healing after FGM/C. Similarly, newborns were found to be more likely to suffer complications such as fetal distress and caput of the fetal head.
Conclusion:
This study shows that FGM/C is associated with a variety of long-term health consequences, that women with FGM/C are four times more likely to suffer complications during delivery, and the newborn is four times more likely to have health complications if the parturient has undergone FGM/C. These results highlight for the first time the magnitude of consequences during delivery and for the newborn, associated with FGM/C in The Gambia.
Description
Citation
Kaplan, A., Forbes, M., Bonhoure, I., Utzet, M., MartÃn, M., Manneh, M., & Ceesay, H. (2013). Female genital mutilation/cutting in The Gambia: long-term health consequences and complications during delivery and for the newborn. International journal of women's health, 5, 323–331. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJWH.S42064
Publisher
International Journal of Women's Health