Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Najmo Mohamed
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Female Genital Mutilation or FGM refers to all procedures in which the external female genitalia is removed for non-medical reasons. In most instances, FGM is a cultural practice that involves young women and girls (Dilbaz et al., 2015). Despite being identified as cultural practice in most communities, FGM has proven to have zero health benefits, religious or cultural importance. Instead, this practice has proven disadvantageous to female individuals who have to undergo painful and traumatic events. FGM which is associated with cultural ideals of modesty and femininity has been associated with severe mental problems towards the victims of this practice who are left traumatized and predisposed to different health conditions and infections.
FGM is notably associated with a variety of mental health effects. For instance, the practice is linked to severe pain that influences traumatic events that tend to negatively impact a person’s mental health. A peer-reviewed journal by Klein et al. (2018) acknowledges this attestation by noting that FGM is a traumatic event that negatively impacts a person’s mental and physical health. Bearing the fact that this practice is criminalized in most countries, individuals prefer to undertake the activity away from public health facilities and without any professional medical supervision. During the process, victims are denied any pain relievers thus forcing them to undergo excruciating pain. This encounter tends to have a very adverse effect on their overall health.
Regarding the adversities associated with this cultural practice, it’s beneficial to consider integrating effective measures to counter the situation. One of the best interventions that health practitioners could consider include creating awareness and educational programs (Williams-Breault, 2018). The idea of creating awareness would unsurprisingly assist in helping the victims of FGM and encourage more communities to steer away from this traumatic cultural practice.
References
Dilbaz, B., İflazoğlu, N., & Tanın, S. A. (2019). An overview of female genital mutilation. Turkish journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 16(2), 129.
Klein, E., Helzner, E., Shayowitz, M., Kohlhoff, S., & Smith-Norowitz, T. A. (2018). Female genital mutilation: health consequences and complications—a short literature review. Obstetrics and gynecology international, 2018.
Williams-Breault, B. D. (2018). Eradicating female genital mutilation/cutting: human rights-based approaches of legislation, education, and community empowerment. Health and human rights, 20(2), 223.