subject: Female Circumcision [print this page] Female Circumcision Female Circumcision
Female circumcision refer to the cutting away either partially or totally the clitoris of female newborn babies, girls or mature women. It is a practice that has been there in some African countries as well as part of Asia for so many years. Its main aim was the fact that it was used as a rite passage for girl to adulthood and eventually makes them ripe for marriage. In the traditional set up it was done without the use of aesthetic which is a pain reliever and the practitioners who were carrying out the act were not observing any hygiene. It is a practice that can cause fatality, health problems which are irreversible and pain to the victim. With all these dangers, it is being seen by some social groups as a very important part of their cultural law which distinguish them from other communities. The practicing nature, reason for practice, age at which it is done varies from one community to the other. Female circumcision is a practice in some communities, nations or religious groups in Africa and Asian because of cultural and religious reasons. It can cause death, permanent physical and psychological health problem to the victim. It has raises several ethical, legal and social issues.
Types of Female circumcision It is classified into three depending on the severity. There is clitoridectomy which involves the cutting of all or a portion of the clitoris. It is less severe compared to other forms of female circumcision. Excision is another form which involves the removal of clitoris together with labia minora. It is more severe than clitoridectomy. Lastly the infibulation, which is the most severe. It involves the cutting of clitoris followed by removal of labia minora after which the surface is scraped to create raw like structures on surface. The raw surfaces are supposed to be in contact during the healing process therefore are held together by either stitching or tying the two legs of the victim together so that they remain in contact throughout the healing time. During the healing process the tissues of the scar reduces the size of the urethra and the vaginal opening which will eventually affect the victim (WHO, 1995).
Another group exist which is not classified as above. They include the use of sharp object to prick the clitoris as well as complete perforation or elongation of the clitoris. The same thing can be practiced on the labia minora. It can also involve the use of hot object to burn clitoris as well as the tissues which are found around it. There is also the incision which is a practice done on the walls of the vagina. We also have the use of herbal materials which are corrosive in nature and are placed into the vagina (WHO, 1995).
Female genital mutilation as a global practice
It has been noted almost everywhere in the world. According to Touba (1993. pp 42) it was noted in not less than twenty three out of forty three countries in Africa. It was further noted that there was variation in which the greatest percentage was recorded in Somalia where ninety eight percent of the females were cut where as the least was noted in Zaire where only five percent of the female had been circumcised. According to Calverton (1995. pp 177., pp166.,pp186. and pp 201., ) a research carried out in Eritrea showed that about ninety five percent of the females had been cut where as in Egypt the survey recorded higher percentage of about ninety seven percent. Demographic health and Survey also conducted on the same research in Mali which recorded a percentage of about ninety four percent of the females who have been genitally mutilated. About forty three percent was also recorded of the total female in Central Africa Republic during Calverton's survey of the same year. According to Calverton (1990, pp 118) it was recorded that about forty three percent of the female were circumcised in Sudan.
Female circumcision was also recorded in some communities in Oman together with countries such as United Arab Emirates. It was also a practice noted in some communities in Yemen. In addition the research also found it to be practiced in India and some parts of the republic of Indonesia together with the republic of Malaysia (Toubia, 1993, pp44).
According to Taubia (1993, pp5) it was found that female circumcision is has also been recorded in European countries and the United States of America. This is attributed from the facts that immigrants from the countries where female genital mutilation is practiced perpetuate with the same act in their foreign countries which lures the residence of those countries to also perform the act
Side effects of circumcision
Excision circumcision can lead to fatal complications such as excessive bleeding from the cut. The cut surface can also be infected because of lack of hygiene in terms of the cutting kits and poor wound management. The victim may also surfer from shock and it is an act that may cause mental as well psychological problems. She may as well have problems such as difficulty in passing urine due to pain. Excessive inflammation and soreness of the wound may cause microbial infection to the victim a long the urinary tract. It can also lead to damaging of the nerves endings which may cause pustule and pain after wound is healed.
Infibulation has severe problems because its effects are more or less than a permanent disability. It was noted that women who have been infibulated have their urethra reduced into a small opening because of the blockage caused by tissue elongation. Because of this blockage the victim finds it had when passing urine and even during menstrual circle. There is also multiple microbial attack of the urinary tract which causes pain and soreness in the private part. Due to that fact that the vaginal and the urinary tract sizes are reduced, it affects the rate of flow during the menstrual circle. This may cause microbial attack of the reproductive system. It may also result to inability to release ovum or the ability for the ovum to get fertilized affecting the fertility status of the victim.
For the case of amputation, tissues which are sexually sensitive are cut. This is a terrible phenomenon because it will interfere with the sexual rights of both the woman and the man. It will be had for both to reach their sexual climax. The woman will not enjoy it because of pain during penetration the opening is small and the tissues surrounding it are also inelastic. When penis is forced through it will result into bleeding because of the breaking of the tissues surrounding the vagina. According to Francis (1997) infibulations has resulted to several incidence of polygamy because men find it had to have sexual satisfaction with women who have been subjected to infibulations. It may also result to complete brakeage of the family due to divorce and this is prone when the woman is not able to get pregnant. It therefore shows that female circumcision which is considered to be a very important right passage for girls pose more danger than good to the circumcised.
