Tilahun Legese Gemeda* and Shewaye Gemora Damto
Background: Female genital mutilation is any surgical modi ication of the female genitalia, comprising all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for cultural or non-therapeutic reasons. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) involves the removal of some or all of the external female genitalia and is usually performed on children by traditional birth attendant, midwives or an old woman who traditionally performs this practice in the community (traditional circumcisers).
Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and health related problems of female genital mutilation.
Methods: Institution based cross-sectional study was employed from December 01 to 10, 2019. Study was conducted on women of reproductive age visiting Jimma medical center during study period. Data was collected by using interview which prepared in english version questionnaire which developed a ter reviewing related literatures. The collected data was compiled by tally sheet and analyzed manually by using scienti ic calculator. Descriptive statistics like frequency and percentages was calculated.
Result: The total number of women studied was 350 with a non-response rate of 9.32%. The majority of respondents were Muslim (41.7%), Oromo (48.9%) and literate (64%) of the total 350 respondents 281 (80.3%) were genitally mutilated while only 50(14.3%) were non-mutilated; the rest 19 (5.4%) did not know whether they were mutilated or not. Of the 281 genitally mutilated women, 9 (3.2%) were infibulated (FGM type III), 242 (86.1%) had their clitoris partially or completely cut (FGM type I/II, noninfibulated) and the rest 30 (10.7%) could not tell the type of mutilation they had undergone.
Conclusion: About four i th 80.3%of respondents were genitally mutilated of the 281 genitally mutilated women, 242 (86.1%) had their clitoris partially or completely cut (FGM type I/II, non-in ibulated) and the rest 30 (10.7%) could not tell the type of mutilation they had undergone.
About 70% of women knew that FGM was associated with health problems. More than half of the interviewed women (53.7%) had a female child and a slight majority of them (58%) had mutilated or were planning to mutilate their daughters. women were also asked what they think was the best ways to eradicate female genital mutilation and the majority (52.9%) suggested an Enforced legislation. About 18% was mentioned by educational campaign to women. Only 7.7% of women mentioned that encouragement of fathers to take more responsibility was the best way.
Published Date: 2022-10-18; Received Date: 2020-05-27
