Evaluation of Motivational Factors to Female Genital Mutilation Practice (FGM)

Female Genital Mutilation
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Evaluation of Motivational Factors to Female Genital Mutilation Practice (FGM)
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a prohibited practice that involves the total or partial removal of the exterior part of the female's genitalia. In most cases, the act is a cultural practice in third world countries and Muslim nations. The World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that FGM has three types. The type I FGM is the removal of the clitoral prepuce typically practiced in Muslim countries. The type II FGM involves the removal of the entire prepuce and the clitoris gland with some portion of the labia minora. The type III of FGM is Pharaonic circumcision. The third category entails the removal of the entire clitoris with the labia minora and parts of the labia majora. Also, the operator estimates the gland structures with thorns or silk sutures or the occlusion of the whole genitalia to leave a small opening for urine and menses (WHO, 2014). The practice of FGM affects the women and girls with the victims suffering from sexual, psychological, and physical problems. Besides, the practice is a violation of human right with over 140 million women, and girls globally suffer from the impacts of FGM. On a separate note, over 2 million girls are at high risks of undergoing such painful procedures annually (UNICEF & Gupta, 2013).
Despite the global awareness on the harmful effects of FGM regarding the health of women, most African nations such as Ethiopia, Somalia, Gambia, Nigeria, East Africa and Djibouti among others practice it at large. Indeed, the communities among the highlighted countries do not consider that the difficult plights that women go through are a problem. Besides, the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) conducted in Ethiopia for instance in 2000 and 2005 alone indicated that the prevalence rate for the FGM was at 80% and 74% respectively (Bogale, Markos & Kaso, 2014). Perhaps, most of the people in such nations cling to such practices due to their allegiance to the patriarch systems and beliefs. Separately, in the efficient management of the FGM and prevention of such activities, the stakeholders and the governments in different nations need to understand and underpin the various motivational factors to the practice of FGM. The information can them be tailored to the audience derive better ways of shunning the evil practice of FGM. However, many researchers have not put into consideration the various motivational factors that lead to the increased rate of FGM practices in different nations.
In the present study, the researcher hypothesizes that religion, tradition, social pressure and poverty are the main motivational factors for the increased incidences of FGM. Masho & Matthews (2009) in their study on FGM in Ethiopia affirmed that the variables increasing FGM practice include age, rural residence, Muslim, level of education, circumcised women themselves and absence of exposure to mass media (Masho & Matthew, 2009). Another study by Kaplan et al. (2013) on female genital mutilation indicated male chauvinism, lack of awareness of FGM consequences, and tradition as the variables that enhance FGM practices Kaplan et al., 2013; Cappon et al., 2015).