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Humanidades Médicas
On-line version ISSN 1727-8120
Abstract
LUJAN RISCO, Yusimy and BETANCOURT ALVAREZ, Pablo Ricardo. Female genital mutilation and its long-term complications. Rev Hum Med [online]. 2014, vol.14, n.3, pp. 602-614. ISSN 1727-8120.
Introduction: The ablation or female genital mutilation includes a wide variety of practices dealing with total or partial extirpation of the external genitalia or its alterations for reasons other than of medical nature. It causes irreversible damages and puts in danger the health or even the life of the woman or child involved. Objective: The aim of the present study is to characterize female genital mutilation and its long-term complications in Fajikunda community, Gambia, between March and September 2012. Method: A descriptive prospective study was performed to 117 women that attended the health unit for reasons requiring gynecological examination and the variables age group, mutilation type, ethnic group and complications were studied. Results: Of the total, 98 women were 45 years old or less; the clitoridectomy (type I) was the most frequent practice; cronical pelvic and genital pains were the long-term complications that showed a major statistical association with relation to mutilation. Conclusions: The prevalence of female genital mutilation in Fajikunda is approximately the same as in Gambia, the type I is the most performed and generally within young women belonging to Mandinga ethnic group.
Keywords : female circumcision; complications; long-term effect.