Abstract
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a common practice in some African countries and Middle East. It involves removal of the of the female’s external genitalia. FGM is conducted in the villages where there is no access to medical care. FGM leads to short-term and long-term complications. The short-term complications include shock, hemorrhage and sometimes death. The long-term medical complications include infections and urological complications. The following paper is a reflection on a FGM film and presents two urological problems caused by FGM. The first problem involved a 23-year-old Nigerian girl who suffered from genital and urinary tract obstruction. The problem was successfully corrected. The second problem related to childbirth complications among women who have undergone FGM in Gambia. The intervention involved the application of Gabbar’s deinfibulation as a corrective measure.
Overview of the Film’s Content
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is the removal of the clitoris or the entire external female genitalia. The practice is prevalent in Africa, Asia and Middle East. Untrained circumcisers carry the practice. In Africa, it is reported that over 2 million girls undergo FGM every year. The razors used during the FGM are not sterilized and no anesthetics used. The medical implications of the female genital mutilation include, hemorrhage, shock, depression, sexual dysfunction, complications during pregnancy and childbirth and in some cases it leads to death (Integrated Regional Information Networks, 2005).
Reflection
As I viewed the film, I came to terms with the real torment of FGM. I was emotionally disturbed and shocked by the process of the FGM. I could not hold on to see the young girl undergo the cut without any anesthesia. I also felt sad to see the act being practiced in an environment that is open to contaminations and infections.
Problems
FGM leads to injury of female genital organs, which result in long-term problems. The major problems include urologic complications such as obstruction of the urinary and genital tract. Another major complication is the long labor during childbirth.
Interventions
Obstruction of the Urinary and Genital Tract
FGM results in obstruction of the genital and urinary tract. In a real case scenario, a 23-year-old girl presented herself in a urology care center. The girl from Nigeria complained of urine splashing during micturition and inability for partner’s penile penetration (Okwudili &Chukwudi, 2012). In-depth examination found that the minora and labia majora were removed. The remnant of labia minora covered vestibule; thus leaving small opening that could not be penetrated by two figures. In addition, the urethral meatus was covered.
On ascertaining the complication that was attributed to FGM, an elective deinfibulation was prescribed for the girl. The Nigerian girl underwent corrective surgery in which the fused labia minora was split to expose the clitoris remnant and separate it from the fibrous tissue. The girl was discharged and follow-up made for six months. At the sixth month, the woman attested there were no more complications and she was happily married (Okwudili &Chukwudi, 2012). The case pointed to effective interventions performed to correct urologic complications caused by FGM.
Pregnancy and Childbirth Complications
Kaplan et al. (2013) carried a study in Gambia to examine pregnancy and childbirth complications caused by FGM. The study included 570 women. The women were categorized into three groups. The first group had not undergone FGM, the second group had undergone type one FGM, and the third group had undergone type II FGM. Complications during childbirth were 11.7% in the non-FGM group. For the FGM groups, the results indicated that 39% of women who had undergone type one FGM had complications while type II FGM group recorded 65.9% (Kaplan et al., 2013). The major complications included perineal tear, episiotomy, and prolonged labor. The study recommended Gabbar’s deinfibulation surgery during pregnancy or labor for the identified cases.
In conclusion, FGM is a non-therapeutic process that results in immediate and long-term effects. The complications caused by the FGM can be successively corrected by application of urological surgeries. For instance, urologic complications among pregnant women can be examined, identified, and corrective surgeries undertaken such as deinfibulation.
References
Integrated Regional Information Networks. (2005). Razor’s Edge: the controversy of female genital mutilation. Nairobi: IRIN.
Kaplan, A., Forbes, M., Bonhouse, I., Utzet, M., Martin, M., Manneh, M. and 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 (1), 323-331.
Okwudili, O. and Chukwudi, O. (2012). Urinary and genital tract obstruction as a complication of female genital mutilation: case report and literature review. Journal of Surgical Technique & Case Report, 4 (1), 64-66.