Transcript Ahoua Koné, MPH, JD Seattle Immigration & Family Law Group, P.S. Winter 2009

Ahoua Koné, MPH, JD
Seattle Immigration &
Family Law Group, P.S.
Winter 2009
FGC or FGM: what is it?
•
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•
•
Ancestral Practice ~ 2000 B.C.
Moral outrage?
Rite of passage?
Health hazard?
Classification (by outsiders)
(4 types: 0-III or I-IV)
Type 0: Symbolic act
Type I (Sunna) : Clitoridectomy Partial or complete removal of clitoris
Type II (Excision): Removal of clitoris
+ inner labia
Type III (Infibulation): Removal of
clitoris + both inner & outer labia +
stitching
Reasons for practicing FGC?
Culture?
Right of passage?
Increase chances for marriage?
Religion?
Preserve of female virginity?
Control /enhance sexuality?
Esthetic / beautify the girl or woman?
Cleanliness?
Unknown?
FGC by Country and Age
Prevalence Among Younger and Older Women
Percent
99 99
98 97
87
78
71 74
71 69
51
48
43
48
32
24
20
13
Benin
2001
Burkina
Côte
Faso d'Ivoire
1998/99 1998/99
Egypt
1995
Ethiopia Guinea
2000
1999
Ages 20-24
Kenya Mauritania Nigeria
1998 2000/2001 1999
Ages 45-49
Source: DHS STATcompiler: accessed online at www.measuredhs.com/statcompiler on July 21, 2004.
Health Consequences
• Short term
– Severe pain, hemorrhage, infection, urine
retention
• Long term – varies greatly according to type
– UTI, obstetric complications, sexual
dysfunction, psychological problems, death
FGM/C: Trends over Generations
1950s
1960s
1990s
2000s
1 year <
At a home
1 year <
At home
A single
family
or
single child
A single
family
or
single child
Hours
Hours
Family level
None
None
Yes
Yes
Yes
Age
Site
10–15 years
8-12 years
Sacred place At a home
Outside the
home
# Girls A cohort from From several
different
families
villages (10+ within same
pers.)
village
(2-6 pers.)
Duration
2-4 weeks
7-10 days
Festivities
Cutting
Community
level
Yes
How to address FGC?
Medicalization?
Criminalization?
Eradication Policy development?
Health Education? Advocacy?
General Female Education?
Cross-Cultural Interventions?