Women, who have had female genital mutilation (FGM), are more likely to experience difficulties during childbirth; and their babies are also at risk to die as a result of the practice.
Gynecologists told Business Recorder here on Saturday that serious complications during childbirth include the need to have a cesarean section, dangerously profuse bleeding after the birth of the baby and prolonged hospitalisation following the birth.
In the case of cesarean section, women who have been subjected to the most serious form of FGM (FGM-III), will have on average 30 percent more cesarean sections compared with those who have not had any FGM. Similarly, there is a 70 percent increase in number of women who suffer from postpartum depression in those with FGM-III compared to those without FGM, they added.
According to a recent study, there is evidence that deliveries among women, who have been subjected to FGM, are significantly more likely to be complicated and dangerous, said Dr Noureen Mirza.
"The FGM is a practice steeped in culture and tradition, but it should not be allowed to carry on. We must support communities in their efforts to abandon this practice and improve care for those who have undergone FGM. We must also steadfastly resist the medicalisation of FGM", she asserted.
Dr Noureen Mirza said the FGM put the women's babies in substantial danger during childbirth. Researchers found there was an increased need to resuscitate babies whose mother had had FGM (66 percent higher in women with FGM III). The death rate among babies during and immediately after birth is also much higher for those born to mothers with FGM: 15 percent higher in those with FGM I, 32 percent higher in those with FGM II, and 55 percent higher in those with FGM III.
She also said that the consequences for the countless women and babies who deliver at home without the help of experienced staff are likely to be even worse.
It may be mentioned that the FGM is a common practice in a number of countries, predominantly in Africa. It involves partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other deliberate injury to the female genital organs whether for cultural or non-therapeutic reasons.
Another gynecologist Dr Saima Shahbaz said that over 100 million women and girls are estimated to have had FGM world-wide. Although practices vary from country to country, the FGM is generally performed on girls under 10 years of age and leads to varying amounts of scar formation.
To a query, Dr Saima said that women with FGM are also more likely to undergo episiotomy (surgical cut during delivery to prevent vaginal tears).
Dr Saima also said there are different types of female genital mutilation known to be practised nowadays. They include: Type I (FGM 1) - excision of the prepuce, with or without excision of part or all of the clitoris; Type II (FGM II) - excision of the clitoris with partial or total excision of the labia minora; Type III (FGM III) - excision of part or all of the external genitalia and stitching/narrowing of the vaginal opening (infibulation).
Comments
Comments are closed.