Urogenital Complications among Girls with Genital Mutilation: A Hospital-Based Study in Khartoum

Abstract

To explore paediatric complications of female genital mutilation (FGM), 255 consecutive girls aged 4-9 years presenting to an emergency ward in Sudan were included in this clinical study. Full examination, including inspection of genitalia, was performed. Dipsticks for nitrite and leucocytes were used to diagnose suspected urinary tract infection (UTI). Girls with a form of FGM narrowing vulva had significantly more UTI than others, and among girls below the age of seven there was a significant association between FGM and UTI. Only 8% of girls diagnosed as having UTI reported urogenital symptoms. In spite of the fact that 73% of the girls subjected to FGM were reported to have been bedridden for one week or more after the operation, only 10% stated immediate complications. We conclude that FGM contributes significantly to morbidity among girls, a large share of which does not come to medical attention. RÉSUMÉAfin d'explorer les complications de la mutilation génitale féminine (MGF), nous avons inclu dans cette étude clinique les filles consécutives âgées de 4 à 9 ans qui viennent au service des urgences au Soudan. On a fait passer un examen compréhensif y compris l'inspection des organes génitaux. Le diagnositic de la suspicion de l'infection urinaire (IU) a été fait à l'aide de la jauge pour les nitrites et les leucocytes. Les filles qui avaient une sorte de vulve qui a été pincé par la MGF avaient beaucoup plus de IU que les autres. Parmi les filles âgées de moins de sept ans, il y avait un lien important entre MGF et IU. Il n'y avait que 8% des filles qui avaient les symptômes de l'infection urogénitale. Malgré le fait que 73% des filles qui avaient la MGF ont été alitées pendant une semaine ou plus après l'opération chirurgicale, seules 10% avaient affirmé des complications immédiates. Nous concluons que la MGF contribue de manière importante à la morbidité chez les filles et qu'une grande majorité des cas ne viennent pas à l'hôpital. (Rev Afr Santé Reprod 2005; 9[2]: 118-124)

Undoing female genital cutting: perceptions and experiences of infibulation, defibulation and virginity among Somali and Sudanese migrants in Norway

“…However, it is this closure that causes many of the health risks associated with infibulation, such as the obstruction of urine and menstrual blood, and birth complications (Almroth et al 2005;Berg and Underland 2013;Nour, Michels, and Bryant 2006;WHO Study Group on Female Genital Mutilation and Obstetric Outcome 2006). Furthermore, emerging evidence suggests an association between the length of time girls and women remain closed and certain health complications (Elmusharaf et al 2014;Ibrahim et al 2011).…”

Estimating the obstetric costs of female genital mutilation in six African countries

“…3 Infection also poses an immediate risk. 1,4,5 Long-term health effects include psychological 1,6 and psychosexual 1,7 trauma, infertility, 1,8 susceptibility to bacterial vaginosis and genital herpes, 1,9 and obstetric complications, including perinatal death. 1,[10][11][12] This study focuses specifically on the medical costs associated with the obstetric complications of FGM.…”

Urological complications in women with genital mutilation

“…Urinary retention following FGM is multifactorial: 1) Local practitioners do not have knowledge regarding anatomy and physiology of the female urogenital tract; 2) It is commonly performed without anesthesia and therefore is a painful and traumatic experience; 3) Psychological impact on women's quality of life is not a major concern for those practitioners; 4) Post-procedure genital swelling difficulty emptying the bladder [15][16][17][18].…”