Female genital mutilation

Safety

Discussion

FGM Classifications

• Chloridectomy - partial or total removal of the clitoris
• Excision - partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora
• Infibulation - narrowing of the vaginal opening
• Other - all harmful procedures to the genitalia for non-medical purposes
• (World Health Organisation 2014)

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• Majority of cases carried out in 28 African countries
• Prevalence as low as 20-50% or as high as 98%

Gov.uk

• Jan 2015 - 2,242 active cases and 499 new cases identified in Hospitals in England.
• Sept 14 - Jan 15 - 2,603 new cases, 44 under 18yrs old
• (Experimental Statistics 2015)

Gov.uk

• Over 20,000 girls under the age of 15 in the UK are at risk every year.
• (Female Genital Mutilation: the facts, Home Office)

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• Custom/tradition/religion
• Preservation of virginity
• Increased male pleasure
• Hygiene/cleanliness
• Family honour
• Increasing femininity

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• Infections
• Pain/discomfort during sex
• Cysts/abcesses
• Fertility problems
• Severe psychological traumas
• Serious childbirth complications
• DEATH

Law/Prosecution

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Impact

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j.l.robertson@dundee.ac.uk

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• FGM Multi agency handbook (Govt 2011)
• FGM National Clinical Group
• FGM: The Facts (Gov.uk)
• FORWARD
• Tackling FGM in the UK (Royal College of Midwifes 2013)