ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) can affect women's lives through various physical, psychological, social and even sexual mechanisms. According to the World Health Organization guidelines for managing the health effects of FGM/C, further research into its psychological effects and preventative measures is required. In this study, a comprehensive review of the mental health consequences of circumcised women of reproductive age has been conducted with a special focus on providing preventive solutions. METHODS: A comprehensive search of the Web of Science, PubMed(MEDLINE), Proquest, Scopus and Google scholar was carried outfrom 2000 to 2022. The second stage of search was conducted in grey literature. To facilitate a systematic approach to search the literature, the PECO framework, was adopted. RESULTS: The result of this narrative review study showed that, the most common mental health disorder in reproductive age circumcised women were depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. Some studies found a significant relationship between parents' education level and circumcised girls, so that parents of the circumcised women had a low level of education. Two studies considered religious beliefs, tradition, cleanness, sexual desire control and virginity as the reasons for FGM/C. CONCLUSION: All forms of FGM/C may be harmful to one's health. Women, who have undergone widespread forms of circumcision, are more likely to develop mental disorders. As the psychosocial effects of circumcision can affect the sexual experience of circumcised women, addressing this issue, emphasizing its legal aspects, and providing preventative solutions can improve physical, mental, social, and even sexual health in circumcised women.
Subject(s)
Circumcision, Female , Circumcision, Male , Mental Disorders , Male , Female , Humans , Circumcision, Female/adverse effects , Circumcision, Female/psychology , Mental Health , Sexual Behavior , Mental Disorders/prevention & controlABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Female genital mutilation (FGM) is internationally recognized as a violation of human rights. Though rarely discussed, FGM is prevalent, affecting hundreds of millions of females worldwide. OBJECTIVES: We believe that is important for plastic surgeons to be informed and prepared to address the surgical and emotional needs of these women. We present our experience on treatment of women subjected to FGM. METHODS: Three consecutive patients were treated by our clitoral restoration procedure. The procedure involves conscious sedation and involves wide release of scar tissue around the labia majora and clitoris. Labial flaps are elevated and secured down to the periosteum and the clitoris is allowed to remucosalize. RESULTS: Three females with grade II mutilation were treated. The average age was 32.3-years-old and the average follow up was 305 days. All patients self-reported improved sexual function and decreased embarrassment with their partners. And all recommended the treatment to other women subjected to FGM. CONCLUSIONS: FGM is a violation of the basic rights of women and children. Plastic surgeons can help these women restore their physical and psychological sense of well-being by providing effective reconstructive options. Our goal is to raise awareness of this problem and describe a simple yet effective treatment for women that have been subject to FGM. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 5.
Subject(s)
Circumcision, Female/adverse effects , Clitoris/surgery , Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods , Sexual Behavior/psychology , Adult , Circumcision, Female/psychology , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Human Rights Abuses , Humans , Interpersonal Relations , Prevalence , Plastic Surgery Procedures/adverse effects , Self Report , Surgical Flaps , Treatment OutcomeSubject(s)
Adolescent Health , Circumcision, Female/adverse effects , Domestic Violence/prevention & control , Global Health , Health Priorities , Human Rights Abuses/prevention & control , Women's Health , Adolescent , Circumcision, Female/ethics , Circumcision, Female/legislation & jurisprudence , Circumcision, Female/psychology , Domestic Violence/ethics , Domestic Violence/legislation & jurisprudence , Domestic Violence/psychology , Editorial Policies , Episiotomy/adverse effects , Episiotomy/ethics , Episiotomy/legislation & jurisprudence , Episiotomy/psychology , Female , Human Rights Abuses/ethics , Human Rights Abuses/legislation & jurisprudence , Human Rights Abuses/psychology , Humans , Periodicals as Topic , Public Policy , Stress, Physiological , Stress, Psychological/etiology , Stress, Psychological/prevention & controlABSTRACT
This study was made by a qualitative approach based on symbolic interactionism and grounded theory. The subject was defined as what mutilation means for nurses who take care of women submitted to gynaecological surgery. The aim was to identify the interaction relationship of nurses as female with the phenomenon of mutilation in gynaecological surgeries and how it affects their relationship with female patients in this situation. Data were obtained by interviews with 16 nurses who work in gynaecology units. The findings present two core categories: speaking as a professional and speaking as female. When they spoke as professional nurses they defined mutilation technically. As females they verbalized their conflict and difficulty in working with mutilation and redefined it as being the loss of something very important for themselves. We conclude that female nurses when confronting female surgery distances themselves behind the professional nurse and performs nursing care as a daily routine. It means that these nurses live a personal conflict that influences directly on how they supply care. They care for, but do not care about; the ethos of biomedicine leads carers on to a technical path from which it is difficult to get off.