Health consequences of female genital mutilation/cutting in the Gambia, evidence into action

Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) is a harmful traditional practice with severe health complications, deeply rooted in many Sub-Saharan African countries. The objective of this study is to perform a first evaluation of the magnitude of the health consequences of FGM/C in The Gambia. A number of females who had undergone FGM/C were surveyed and consulted.

Key findings:

• FGM/C is still practiced in all the six regions of Gambia.
  
• FGM/C has strong ancestral socio-cultural roots as evidenced by the fact that 72.9% of Gambian women would like their daughters to undergo FGM/C.
• the most common form of FGM/C is type I (the form of least anatomical extent), followed by type II (a type that involves the excision of the clitoris).
• all forms of FGM/C, including type I, produce significantly high percentages of complications, especially infections associated with hemorrhage and anemia.
• however, the frequency of complications increases with the degree of mutilation/cutting.
  
• the practice of FGM/C has a significant economic cost as 1 out of 3 patients suffered medical consequences requiring treatment.
  

The authors deem these results will allow the implementation of a national training work plan for the health professionals and students regarding the issue of FGM/C, directly based on the observed health consequences in Gambia.