Female Genital Mutilation (Fgm) And Health Of Women In Sipi Subcounty Kapchorwa District

ABSTRACT

This was conducted to find out the impact of FGM on young women’s health. Questionnaire was used to collect the data. The purpose of the study was to investigate the impacts of FGM on young women’s health. The objective I of the study was to “find out the purpose of FGM and it was found that FGM is practiced for the purpose of cultural identity and initiation of women into adulthood /complete woman. Objective II ought to “find out the effects of the FGM practice and it was found that” FGM is associated with number of negative effects which includes; over bleeding leading to the death among the victims, complication during child delivery, spread of HIV/AIDS because of using unsterilized knives from one candidate to another, injuries to the private parts for example during sexual intercourse, paralysis of the victims leading to dislocation and disability due to forceful nature, problem of urinary retention, clitoris neuroma, wound sepsis, injuries to the adjacent tissues of vagina, rectum and perineum an urethra, it also lead to psychological torture to the victim. Objective III ought to seek for the community views on the practice of FGM in relation to its impacts and it was found out that 99% of the respondents questioned mentioned that FGM is a bad cultural practice that should be abolished from the community. Objective IV ought to identify the ways of eliminating FGM among women. According to REACH organization, they laid down a number of strategies which are working in reducing FGM and among which includes; exercising cultural day celebrations, holding stakeholder meetings, community policing, media campaign, participatory theatre, community sensitization and cross boarder meetings. It was recommended that; strict implementation of policies, the community should identify productive activities, promoting girl child education, stakeholders should jointly get involved in the fight against FGM, training and sensitization programmes should be carried on IGAs awareness raising on the rights, introduction of positive cultural practices, offering financial and psychological support to the victimized individuals, and government should extend police services to the deep villages where the practice is being done.