The Impacts of Female Genital Mutilation among the Female Dwellers in Sanja Town, North West Ethiopia

Abstract

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a worldwide complex, deeply rooted practice and affecting almost all ethnic groups. FGM is widely practiced by Ethiopian women, specially, in Eastern part, Somali region. The practice affects the health and psychological well-being of millions of Ethiopian women and children. It is also a violation of child‟s and women‟s human rights, denying them of their physical and mental integrity and their right to freedom from violence, torture and discrimination. Psychosexual, social, hygienic and religious reasons are given for the practice. The major purpose of this study is to explore the impacts of FGM specifically the social, psychological and health impacts of female genital mutilation and reasons for the continuation of it in Sanja town North West Ethiopia. This study employed qualitative approach. The data collection tools that were employed in this study are in-depth interview and key informant interview. A total of sixteen study participants were selected twelve in-depth interviewee residents in Sanja town and four key informants who were health professionals working at Sanja health center. The finding showed that female genital mutilation has social, psychological and health effects. The community‟s belief about uncircumcised girls causes to aggravate FGM. The community believe that uncircumcised girls face problem in getting husband, disgrace, and stigmatization, in addition to the loss of social status, honor and protection from the community for both the female and her circle of relatives and also tension, nightmares with panic, the subsequent experience of humiliation and being betrayed by her parents can be determined after circumcision.