Title : A qualitative assessment of high school girl's perspectives and experience of female genital mutilation in Wad Elhabashi Village, River Nile State, Sudan
Abstract:
Background: female genital mutilation and cutting is a common and dangerous practice. In Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, female genital cutting (FGC) is a prevalent ritual. This study aims at discussing the experience and knowledge about FGM among secondary school girls by conducting this study we add much knowledge about FGM and what is the possible step to decrease or stop this habit
Methods: A qualitative deductive study with thematic analysis was conducted. A total number of 42 female high school students were recruited purposely and divided into five focus groups, each included girls from four different high school classes of the main school of the study area. A topic guide was prepared and used to lead the focus groups. Thematic analysis was used, and the study days had been categorized into four themes: knowledge, procedure and performance, experience, and practice. The condensed meaning units of each theme were identified then categorized to formulate sub-themes.
Results: all the participants indicated that FGM is a traditional practice in the village. The vast majority have heard about it from the family either from their mothers or their grandmother's. Regarding the procedure, all the participants agreed that midwifes perform FGM but most of them mentioned that they cut something and sew it but they don't know what it is, while mothers and grandmothers are the decisions makers of FGM according to all participants. The majority of the participants stated that there is no difference between the circumcised and uncircumcised girls. Most of the participants agreed that circumcision has negative side effects. They have mentioned pain, difficult urination and walking as early side effects, while psychological impacts and labor obstruction as late ones. Generally, the majority of the participants agreed that circumcision should stop, and most of them also knew that it is not beneficial.
Conclusion: This study concluded that the knowledge regarding the danger of FGM among high-school girls is better than what is expected in relation to the high prevalence of the practice though. Namely, it concluded that the process is generally understood, the exact performers are known, the experience is universal and the side effects are absolutely acknowledged.
Audience Take Away Notes:
- Exposure to the Sudanese rural areas beliefs and practices.
- Knowing about qualitative research methods and analysis.
- Signify the importance of health education programs as tools of simple intervention for critical healthcare problems.
