THE IMPACT OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION ON THE SEXUAL FUNCTION OF WOMEN ATTENDING THE ACADEMY TEACHING HOSPITAL IN SUDAN
ABDELMONEIM E. M. KHEIR *
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Soba University Hospital, P.O.Box 102, Khartoum, Sudan
REEM B. A. ALI
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Medical Sciences and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan
ASEEL A. SHIDDO
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Medical Sciences and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan
AHMED SHIDDO
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Imperial Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan
IHAB ABDALRAHMAN
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Soba University Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Female genital mutilation refers to procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. The main objectives of this study were to determine the different types of FGM in Sudanese women, compare the sexual function among genital mutilated and non-genital mutilated women attending the Academy teaching Hospital in Khartoum state.
Methods: This was a cross sectional, comparative study that was carried out in The Academy Teaching Hospital in Khartoum during the period 1/11/2011 till 31/12/2012. 132 women were included in the study. Data was collected using The Female Sexual Function index questionnaire, Chi square test and ANOVA were used as tests of significance and P value was set at 0.05.
Results: The results showed that 81.8% of the respondents were genitally mutilated and older women were more likely to have Pharaonic type of genital mutilation with significant association between age and type of genital mutilation (P = .007). The study revealed that women with higher education were less likely to have genital mutilation with significant association between type of genital mutilation and level of education (P=.001). The study also revealed that non- genitally mutilated females were more likely to attain sexual satisfaction thanpharaonic or Sunnah genitally mutilated females with significant association between type of genital mutilation and satisfaction (P=.031). As for desire, arousal, orgasm and pain there was no significant difference between the 3 groups.
Conclusion: Female genital mutilation is a cruel procedure and a cultural tradition that deprives women of sexual satisfaction, the majority of the respondents were genitally mutilated and that non- genitally mutilated females were more likely to attain sexual satisfaction than pharaonic or Sunnah genitally mutilated females.
Keywords: Female, genital mutilation, sexual function, Sudan