Forensic Nursing Chronicles

Female Genital Mutilation is form of ritual that has been performed in many countries for centuries. Female genital mutilation is a form of female circumcision in which the female’s clitorus is completely removed. This procedure often leads to infection, scaring, and both physical and emotional trauma. Having such an invasive procedure done on a women’s genitalia leaves a greater possibility for infection and disease to set in. As the previous post states, it is looked down upon by most of the world and is seen as criminal in the global perspective. However, women around the world are still having this procedure performed on them despite the negative side effects. In my opinion this is a form of abuse towards women and a means of keeping women in submission to their society. I think that women who are seen in health care need to be very sensitive to this issue and work to understand where the patients are coming from both emotionally, mentally, and any physical issues they may be dealing with.

Original Post
May 26, 2009
Title: Female Genital Mutilation
Female Genital Mutilation is a religious ritual which dates back hundreds of years making it very obsolete and presently viewed as criminal on a global perspective. The practice has been addressed through many forums such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948; United Nations convention on the Right of the Child, 1959; African Charter on Rights and Welfare of the Child, 1990; Declaration on Violence Against Women in 1993; High Commission on Refugees Statement against Gender Based violence, 1996. All forums strongly disagree with the practice and encourage the enforcement of the law. There is no easy solution to female genital mutilation. Respect for lives at risk must take precedence over a cultural tradition. And the communities need to be educated to such. I can see the need in health care for education to the professionals who take care of these patients. Education on the ritual and the possible complications. And education regarding the sensitivity of the situation when approaching these patients for they are probably affected physically, psychology, and socially.

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This entry was posted on December 24, 2009 at 2:29 pm and is filed under Female Genital Mutilation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.