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Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting and the Occurrences of Birth Complications Among Women of Reproductive Age in Gewane Woreda, Afar Regional State, Ethiopia

Received: 9 November 2017    Accepted: 16 November 2017    Published: 5 January 2018
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Abstract

Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), one of the most deeply rooted, harmful traditional practices, is still highly prevalent in many African countries, including Ethiopia. The reproductive health complications of FGM/C include acute hemorrhage, painful sexual life, the inability-to-conceive, fistula, and death secondary to birth complications. This study was aimed to assess the magnitude, associated factors and birth outcomes of FGM/C among women of reproductive age groups (15-49 years) in Gewane, Woreda from July 4 to 17, 2016. A population-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted using quantitative data collection methods. A sample of 792 women who ever gave birth was selected using systematic random methods. Data was collected using pretested questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS Version 21. Chi-square and logistic regression models were used to analyze and find the associations between the study variables. The prevalence of FGM/C among childbearing women was 90.8%. Infibulations (WHO Type III) was the predominantly (86.1%) practiced type of FGM/C. Higher age (AOR, 11.56; 95% CI: 2.56, 48.39), Afar Ethnic group (AOR, 4.55; 95% CI: 1.95-10.61), literate (AOR, 0.35; 95% CI: 0.15, 0.81) were factors significantly associated with FGM/C. A statistically significant association (P< 0.05) was found between FGM/C and perineal lacerations, episiotomy, postpartum complications, postpartum hemorrhage, wound infection, and stillbirth. FGM/C was highly prevalent in the study area. Infibulation, WHO Type III was the most severe form of FGM/C widely practiced. Age, ethnicity and literacy were associated with FGM/C. Women with Type III FGM/C was at higher risk of having birth and postpartum complications. Education, culturally sound community awareness raising programs, and enforcing legislation are recommended to reduce the adverse outcomes associated with FGM/C.

Published in Cancer Research Journal (Volume 6, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.crj.20180601.11
Page(s) 1-9
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Afar Region, Ethiopia, Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting

References
[1] World Health Organization (WHO), 2008. Eliminating Female Genital Mutilation: An Interagency Statement. Geneva.
[2] United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), 2013. For the circumcision blade. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/media/files/UNICEF_FGM/C_report_July_2013_Hi_res.pdf.
[3] United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), 2013. Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: A statistical overview and exploration of the dynamics of change, UNICEF, New York.
[4] United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), 2016. Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: A Global Concern. New York. Available from: https://www.unicef.org/media/files/FGM/CC_2016_brochure_final_UNICEF_SPREAD.pdf.
[5] Abdulkadir J, Margairaz C, Boulvain M, Irion O. Care of Women with Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting. Swiss Medical Weekly. 2011, 6 (14).
[6] World Health Organization (WHO), 2016. Female Genital Mutilation. Geneva.
[7] Jacobs F, Clifton D, 2010. Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: Data and Trends Update.
[8] United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), 2010. UNICEF’S DATA WORK ON FGM/C/C. Available from: http://www.unicef.org/media/files/FGM/CC_Lo_res.pdf (accessed on March 28, 2016).
[9] Kangoum AA, Flodin U, Hammar M, Sydsjo G. Prevalence of female genital mutilation among African women resident in the Swedish country of Ostergotland. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 2004, 83 (3): 187-190. Available from: http://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/hub/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1600-0412/- accessed on March 28, 2016).
[10] Dejene A, Birhanerselase A. Baseline Survey on Female Genital Mutilation and other Harmful Traditional Practices, in North Gondar Amahara Regional State, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2006.
[11] Ndiaye P, Diongue M, Faye A, Ouedraogo D, Tal Dia A. Female genital mutilation and complications in childbirth in the province of Gourma (Burkina Faso). Sante Publique 2010; 22 (5): 563-70.
[12] World Health Organization (WHO) study group on female genital mutilation and obstetric outcome. Female genital mutilation and obstetric outcome: WHO collaborative prospective study in six African countries. Lancet. 2006; 367: 1835–1841.
[13] Brigitta E, Birgit B, Sjoberg NO, Saemundur G, Ostergren PO and Jens LR. Is there an association between female circumcision and perinatal death? Bulletin of WHO 80 (8), 2002.
[14] Setegn T, Lakew Y, Deribe K. Geographic Variation and Factors Associated with Female Genital Mutilation among Reproductive Age Women in Ethiopia: A National Population Based Survey. PLoS One, 2016; 11 (1): 1-17.
[15] Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia. Ethiopian mini Demographic and Health Survey. Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. 2014.
[16] Gebremedihin T, 2002. Female Genital Mutilation and Occurrence of Birth Complications, Jigjiga Town, Eastern Ethiopia.
[17] United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), 2005. INNOCENTI DIGEST NO. 12: CHANGING A HARMFUL SOCIAL CONVENTION: FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION/CUTTING. Available From: https://www.unicef-irc.org/media-centre/press-kit/FGM/C.
[18] Stanley P, Khan S. Numbers of women circumcised in Africa: The Production of a Total. USAID, DHS Working papers, No. 39, March 2008.
[19] Dandash KF, Rafaat AH, Eyada M. FGM/C: Female genital mutilation: perceptions of healthcare professionals and the perspective of the migrant families. BMC Public Health 2010; 10: 193.
[20] Stanford J. Postpartum Hemorrhage among women delivered at the Mbeya referral hospital in 2008. The Dar-Es-Salam Medical Students Journal, DMSJ September 2010.
[21] Oduuro A, Anash P, Afful T, Baiden F, Adongo P and Koram P. Trends in the Prevalence of female Genital Mutilation and its effect on delivery outcomes in the Kassena-nankana of northern Ghana. Ghana Medical Journal 2006, 40 (3).
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    Bayush Gizachew Chuluko, Sileshi Garoma Abeya. (2018). Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting and the Occurrences of Birth Complications Among Women of Reproductive Age in Gewane Woreda, Afar Regional State, Ethiopia. Cancer Research Journal, 6(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.crj.20180601.11

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    ACS Style

    Bayush Gizachew Chuluko; Sileshi Garoma Abeya. Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting and the Occurrences of Birth Complications Among Women of Reproductive Age in Gewane Woreda, Afar Regional State, Ethiopia. Cancer Res. J. 2018, 6(1), 1-9. doi: 10.11648/j.crj.20180601.11

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    AMA Style

    Bayush Gizachew Chuluko, Sileshi Garoma Abeya. Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting and the Occurrences of Birth Complications Among Women of Reproductive Age in Gewane Woreda, Afar Regional State, Ethiopia. Cancer Res J. 2018;6(1):1-9. doi: 10.11648/j.crj.20180601.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.crj.20180601.11,
      author = {Bayush Gizachew Chuluko and Sileshi Garoma Abeya},
      title = {Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting and the Occurrences of Birth Complications Among Women of Reproductive Age in Gewane Woreda, Afar Regional State, Ethiopia},
      journal = {Cancer Research Journal},
      volume = {6},
      number = {1},
      pages = {1-9},
      doi = {10.11648/j.crj.20180601.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.crj.20180601.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.crj.20180601.11},
      abstract = {Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), one of the most deeply rooted, harmful traditional practices, is still highly prevalent in many African countries, including Ethiopia. The reproductive health complications of FGM/C include acute hemorrhage, painful sexual life, the inability-to-conceive, fistula, and death secondary to birth complications. This study was aimed to assess the magnitude, associated factors and birth outcomes of FGM/C among women of reproductive age groups (15-49 years) in Gewane, Woreda from July 4 to 17, 2016. A population-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted using quantitative data collection methods. A sample of 792 women who ever gave birth was selected using systematic random methods. Data was collected using pretested questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS Version 21. Chi-square and logistic regression models were used to analyze and find the associations between the study variables. The prevalence of FGM/C among childbearing women was 90.8%. Infibulations (WHO Type III) was the predominantly (86.1%) practiced type of FGM/C. Higher age (AOR, 11.56; 95% CI: 2.56, 48.39), Afar Ethnic group (AOR, 4.55; 95% CI: 1.95-10.61), literate (AOR, 0.35; 95% CI: 0.15, 0.81) were factors significantly associated with FGM/C. A statistically significant association (P< 0.05) was found between FGM/C and perineal lacerations, episiotomy, postpartum complications, postpartum hemorrhage, wound infection, and stillbirth. FGM/C was highly prevalent in the study area. Infibulation, WHO Type III was the most severe form of FGM/C widely practiced. Age, ethnicity and literacy were associated with FGM/C. Women with Type III FGM/C was at higher risk of having birth and postpartum complications. Education, culturally sound community awareness raising programs, and enforcing legislation are recommended to reduce the adverse outcomes associated with FGM/C.},
     year = {2018}
    }
    

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    AU  - Bayush Gizachew Chuluko
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Author Information
  • Department of Public Health, Adama General Hospital and Medical College, Adama, Ethiopia

  • Department of Public Health, Adama Hospital Medical College, Adama, Ethiopia

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