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Socio-Anthropological Determinants of the Practice Persistence of Female Genital Mutilation in Conakry, Guinea in 2021

Received: 24 January 2023    Accepted: 21 February 2023    Published: 20 March 2023
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Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to analyze the socio-anthropological determinants of the persistence of the practice of female genital mutilation in Conakry. Methods: A one-month qualitative study (May 1-31, 2021) involving seven categories of people (mothers and fathers, imams, Christian religious leaders, local elected officials, young girls and boys) in Conakry. Results: This study shows that 81% of participants consider FGM to be a customary and traditional practice and a legacy of their ancestors to be perpetuated. More than half of the respondents (52%) considered FGM to be a religious prescription. Others thought that FGM was intended to ward off bad diseases and reduce the odor of young girls' urine. The majority (66.7%) saw uncut women in a negative light, as free women who could not control their sexual urges. Nearly half (46%) of the participants did not know that FGM could lead to complications and 31% of them did not know that there was a law in the country prohibiting the practice of FGM. Conclusions: Religious beliefs, customs, traditions, and the stigmatization of uncircumcised women contribute to the persistence of FGM in Conakry. The fight against this scourge requires that these aspects be taken into account in all response strategies.

Published in Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics (Volume 11, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.jgo.20231101.14
Page(s) 25-30
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Socio-Anthropological Determinants, FGM, Conakry

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Abdourahamane Diallo, Daniel William Athanase Leno, Niouma Nestor Leno, Aissatou Barry, Mamady Kouroumah, et al. (2023). Socio-Anthropological Determinants of the Practice Persistence of Female Genital Mutilation in Conakry, Guinea in 2021. Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 11(1), 25-30. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jgo.20231101.14

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    ACS Style

    Abdourahamane Diallo; Daniel William Athanase Leno; Niouma Nestor Leno; Aissatou Barry; Mamady Kouroumah, et al. Socio-Anthropological Determinants of the Practice Persistence of Female Genital Mutilation in Conakry, Guinea in 2021. J. Gynecol. Obstet. 2023, 11(1), 25-30. doi: 10.11648/j.jgo.20231101.14

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    AMA Style

    Abdourahamane Diallo, Daniel William Athanase Leno, Niouma Nestor Leno, Aissatou Barry, Mamady Kouroumah, et al. Socio-Anthropological Determinants of the Practice Persistence of Female Genital Mutilation in Conakry, Guinea in 2021. J Gynecol Obstet. 2023;11(1):25-30. doi: 10.11648/j.jgo.20231101.14

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  • @article{10.11648/j.jgo.20231101.14,
      author = {Abdourahamane Diallo and Daniel William Athanase Leno and Niouma Nestor Leno and Aissatou Barry and Mamady Kouroumah and Telly Sy},
      title = {Socio-Anthropological Determinants of the Practice Persistence of Female Genital Mutilation in Conakry, Guinea in 2021},
      journal = {Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics},
      volume = {11},
      number = {1},
      pages = {25-30},
      doi = {10.11648/j.jgo.20231101.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jgo.20231101.14},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jgo.20231101.14},
      abstract = {Introduction: This study aimed to analyze the socio-anthropological determinants of the persistence of the practice of female genital mutilation in Conakry. Methods: A one-month qualitative study (May 1-31, 2021) involving seven categories of people (mothers and fathers, imams, Christian religious leaders, local elected officials, young girls and boys) in Conakry. Results: This study shows that 81% of participants consider FGM to be a customary and traditional practice and a legacy of their ancestors to be perpetuated. More than half of the respondents (52%) considered FGM to be a religious prescription. Others thought that FGM was intended to ward off bad diseases and reduce the odor of young girls' urine. The majority (66.7%) saw uncut women in a negative light, as free women who could not control their sexual urges. Nearly half (46%) of the participants did not know that FGM could lead to complications and 31% of them did not know that there was a law in the country prohibiting the practice of FGM. Conclusions: Religious beliefs, customs, traditions, and the stigmatization of uncircumcised women contribute to the persistence of FGM in Conakry. The fight against this scourge requires that these aspects be taken into account in all response strategies.},
     year = {2023}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Socio-Anthropological Determinants of the Practice Persistence of Female Genital Mutilation in Conakry, Guinea in 2021
    AU  - Abdourahamane Diallo
    AU  - Daniel William Athanase Leno
    AU  - Niouma Nestor Leno
    AU  - Aissatou Barry
    AU  - Mamady Kouroumah
    AU  - Telly Sy
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.jgo.20231101.14
    T2  - Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics
    JF  - Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics
    JO  - Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics
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    EP  - 30
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
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    AB  - Introduction: This study aimed to analyze the socio-anthropological determinants of the persistence of the practice of female genital mutilation in Conakry. Methods: A one-month qualitative study (May 1-31, 2021) involving seven categories of people (mothers and fathers, imams, Christian religious leaders, local elected officials, young girls and boys) in Conakry. Results: This study shows that 81% of participants consider FGM to be a customary and traditional practice and a legacy of their ancestors to be perpetuated. More than half of the respondents (52%) considered FGM to be a religious prescription. Others thought that FGM was intended to ward off bad diseases and reduce the odor of young girls' urine. The majority (66.7%) saw uncut women in a negative light, as free women who could not control their sexual urges. Nearly half (46%) of the participants did not know that FGM could lead to complications and 31% of them did not know that there was a law in the country prohibiting the practice of FGM. Conclusions: Religious beliefs, customs, traditions, and the stigmatization of uncircumcised women contribute to the persistence of FGM in Conakry. The fight against this scourge requires that these aspects be taken into account in all response strategies.
    VL  - 11
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Author Information
  • Gynaecology-Obstetrics Service, Ignace Deen National Hospital, Conakry, Republic of Guinea

  • Gynaecology-Obstetrics Service, Donka National Hospital, Conakry, Republic of Guinea

  • African Center of Excellence for Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases, Conakry, Republic of Guinea

  • Gynaecology-Obstetrics Service, Ignace Deen National Hospital, Conakry, Republic of Guinea

  • Gynaecology-Obstetrics Service, Ignace Deen National Hospital, Conakry, Republic of Guinea

  • Gynaecology-Obstetrics Service, Ignace Deen National Hospital, Conakry, Republic of Guinea

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