Female Genital Mutilation Implication for Sexual and Reproductive Health

Abstract

Female genital mutilation continues to be a threat to women’s and girls’ health and human rights globally. The paper discussed female genital mutilation with special emphasis to its sexual and reproductive health implications. This paper discussed female genital mutilation as the cutting off of part or the whole of a girl’s clitoris and some other parts of her sex organs for cultural or any other non-therapeutic reasons. The paper started with a global overview of the prevalence and trend in the practice of female genital mutilation, then narrowed down to Africa and exhaustively discussed the Nigeria situation of female genital mutilation. After which the conceptual overview as well as classification of female genital mutilation which are Type I, Type II, Type III and Type IV female genital mutilation. Socio-cultural factors supporting female genital mutilation, such as: traditional value, cultural heritage, custom/tradition, ignorance, preserve promiscuity, hygiene, community identity, illiteracy, preserve virginity, family honour, ensure marriage, cosmetic, ensure fertility, and womanhood initiation was also identified. The paper identified prolonged labour, maternal mortality, severe pain, difficulties during childbirth, increased infant mortality, dangerously heavy bleeding after the birth of the baby and prolonged hospitalization following birth among other as the reproductive health implications of female genital mutilation, while the sexual health implications of female genital mutilation as identified by the paper include: reduced level of sexual desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and increases pain in sexual function of women among others. The paper recommended among others that adequate awareness of the grave health implications of female genital mutilation should be created among the people that practice the act so as to educate them on the need to stop such practice.