The document discusses female genital mutilation (FGM), defining it as the partial or complete removal of external female genitalia for non-medical reasons, primarily rooted in cultural and religious traditions. In Nigeria, approximately 20 million women have undergone FGM, making it a prevalent practice; despite being illegal, it persists due to various societal factors and beliefs. The document outlines the health complications associated with FGM, the psychological impact on women, and the importance of education and legal measures in its prevention.

1. FEMALE GENITAL
MUTILATION(FGM)
Emmanuel Ali Adamu
Department of Medicine and Surgery, College of Medical Sciences
University of Maiduguri, Northeastern Nigeria
2022

2. Outline
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Introduction
Burden and Distribution
Reasons for FGM
Factors
Classification
Complications
Prevention
Conclusion

3. Introduction
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Definition
FGM is the partial or complete removal of external
female genitalia or damage to other female genital
organs for non-medical reasons(WHO)
tradition upheld for centuries
maintain male dominance.
virginity,
pleasure to men during sexual intercourse
Part of genitalia unattractive to the male eye
removed

4. Classification
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Type I: clitoridectomy
Type II: Removal of labia minora+majora
Type III: Infibulation
Type IV: others like burns, herbs, etc
World Health Organization (WHO)

5. FGM in NIGERIA
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About 20 million girls and women in Nigeria
have undergone FGM.
A prevalent practice in Nigeria
Third-highest worldwide(10% )
20% of Nigerian women aged 15 to 49 have
undergone FGM.

6. FGM in the UK
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In 2011, about 137,000 women and girls with FGM, born
in countries where FGM is practised, were permanent
residents in England and Wales.
The number of women with FGM living in England and
Wales has increased since 2001, and this is largely
attributable to migration.
The main groups in the UK who experience FGM are
from Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Iraq, Kenya,
Kurdistan, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Northern Sudan, Sierra
Leone, and Somalia (BMA2011),
There were 170,000 women aged 15 and over in England
and Wales with FGM and 63,000 girls aged 0-13 were at
risk of FGM.
Equality Now and City University London, 2014, p.20

7. GLOBAL VARIATION
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Most Fulani women in Guinea have experienced FGM, 12
percent of the Fulani in Chad had FGM, but Fulanis in
Nigeria do not practise FGM
No mention of FGM in the Quran or the Bible
It is a weak hadith but regarded as obligatory by Shafai’i
version of sunni
In Niger, 55 percent of Christian women and girls had
experienced FGM, compared with two percent of their
Muslim counterparts.
The Beta Israel of Ethiopia practice FGM but Judaism
requires male circumcision but does not allow FGM.
FGM is also practised by animist groups in Guinea and
Mali.
Sexual and reproductive health issues in a female aged 0-9 years; Prof. M. Bukar

9. Reasons for FGM
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To curb promiscuity
Hygiene
Culture
Purity
Higher bride price
?Religion (practiced in Northeastern Africa in
pre-Islamic period)
Sexual and reproductive health issues in a female aged 0-9 years; Prof. M. Bukar

10. Factors maintaining FGM
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Culture
Religion
Societal values
Female Genital Mutilation: Health Consequences and Complications—A Short
Literature Review; Elliot Klein,1 Elizabeth Helzner,2 Michelle Shayowitz,1 Stephan
Kohlhoff,1 and Tamar A.

13. 3 MAJOR GROUPS OF
VICTIMS
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The Adaptives: these women are overcoming the
FGM experience and are able to talk about what
bothers them.
The Disempowered: these women feel angry and
defeated, and do not talk about what was done to
them, feeling ashamed, alone and disempowered.
The Traumatised: these women have suffered a
lot of pain and sadness. They have recurrent
memories, sleep problems and chronic stress; they
feel misunderstood in their immediate
environment and by health providers.
Vloeberghs et al (2012, pp.689-690)

14. COMPLICATIONS
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Medical
Obstetrics
Gynaecologic
Infections
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PsychoSocial
PTSD
Anxiety
Flashbacks
Depression
Low self esteem
Extreme fear of the opposite
sex
Chronic pain syndrome
Memory loss
Sleep disturbances
Somatization

15. SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS
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Spousal Relationships
Women who have undergone FGM are more likely
than women without FGM to experience painful
intercourse, reduced sexual satisfaction and
reduced sexual desire (Berg, Denision, 2012,
pp.41-56).
FGM may lead to sexual phobia (El-Defrawi et al,
2001, p.472).
Women may also experience more difficulty
reaching orgasm, and shame or embarrassment
about intimacy (Burrage, 2015, p.115).

16. SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS
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Family relationship
Fear of the perpetrators

17. COST IMPLICATIONS
• Vaginoplasty costs an average of 3.5million
American Society of Plastic Surgeons

18. Prevention
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In 2015, Nigeria passed the Violence Against
Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act against FGM and all
other gender-based violence. Although FGM is illegal
in Nigeria, it is still prevalent
Education
Christianah Fayomi has performed FGM procedures for
nearly 29 years, charging between 500 and 1,000 nairas
to circumcise an infant or child and 5,000 nairas to
circumcise an adult woman. Because of UNICEF’s
workshops, she no longer practices FGM. “I saw the
diagrammatic representation of the female genitalia and
was tutored about the ills of the practice and I am now
promoting its abandonment,” Fayomi says.
UNICEF

19. Conclusion
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FGM has been associated with medical,
sociocultural, and economic consequences
It is a harmful practice that portends non of the
purported benefits
It should be avoided at all cost
Education remains key in reducing the
incidence of this problem.

20. THANK YOU