Nursing and Social Justice

This article discusses the impact of female genital mutilation (FGM) on women and girls, including its types, complications, and long-term consequences. It explores the role of nurses in addressing this issue and highlights the need for legal actions and health promotion campaigns to eliminate FGM.

Nursing and Social Justice

Table of Contents
BLOG (Female Genital Mutation)...................................................................................................1
Reflection.........................................................................................................................................3
References........................................................................................................................................7

BLOG (Female Genital Mutation)
Female genital mutilation (FGM)
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a horrible experience for females who has faced this which
results into severe complications in their lives. It is prevalent practice which has been carried out
in several communities in order to maintain their virginity. Basically, people has some cultural
belief for attempting this critical practice which is a really terrible experience by girls. The
female genital mutilation is a practice of partially or complete removal of external female
genitalia or other injuries to relevant organs for non-medical reasons (Abdulcadir and et. al.,
2016). It consist the fact that this attempt was not having any kind of benefits for health
condition of girls. It is observed that FGM is responsible for developing severe bleeding, issues
of urinating, later cysts, infections, complications in childbirth and increased risk of newborn
deaths. However, it has been analysed that around 200 million females have been cut their
genitalia by concentrating FGM. It includes the fact that FGm is motsly conducted in young age
between infancy to 15 years of age. It is observed that FGM can be considered as a violation of
human rights of women and girls. The practice of FGM is not medically and legally approved
and WHO opposed the same but still people of some communities attempt the same. The
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treatment of health complications of FGM are highly at risk of death that is prevalence in around
27 nations.
Types of FGM
Type 1: The initial kind of FGM includes pratial or complete removal of slitoral glans which is
known as an external part of clitoris that is considered as sensitive area of female genitals. It
includes the removal of prepuce or clitoral hood that is a kind of fold of skin present in
surroundings of clitoral glans.
Type 2: The second method is all about to partial or total removing of clitoral glands as well as
labia minora that can be defined s inner folds of the vulva. It consist the criterion of removing
selected part with or without labia majora which is known as outer folds of skin of vulva
accordingly (Klein and et. al., 2018).
Type 3: The third type of FGM process can also be called as infibulation which includes the
attempt to narrow the vaginal opening with the help of developing a covering seal. It involves
the criterion of forming the seal via cutting along with repositioning the labia minora or labia
majora via using atiching with or without removing of clitoral prepure or clitoral hood as well as
glands.
Type 4: This involves the number of harmful procedures in order to mutilate female genitalia for
non-medical purposes. It consist to prefer several kinds of methods such as piercing, incising,
scraping, cauterising and pricking of the genital area.
Complications of FGM
The FGM has no health benefits but has number of minor and major complications occurs for
girls from which they suffer ife long. It includes some of immediate complication such as
excessive bleeding (haemorrhage), swelling of genital tissue, fever, infections like tetanus,
urinary problems, wound healing problems, injury to surroundings genital tissue, shock, death
and severe pain (Grose and et. al., 2019). However, it has been analysed that FGM has various
kinds of long terms complications which are mentioned here. It includes urinary problems
including painful urination, urinary tract infections and many more. It contains vaginal issues
like discharge, itching, bacterial vaginosis and other relevant infections along with menstrual
issues including painful menstruations, difficulty in passing menstrual blood etc. Meanwhile, it
includes scar tissue, sexual problems like painful intercourse & reduced satisfaction and
Increased risk of childbirth complications such as difficult delivery, excessive bleeding,
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caesarean section and need to resuscitate the baby and may the new born face death. The females
face long terms psychological issues including anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress
disorder, low self-esteem and so on.
Reflection
In context of this reflective assignment, it is based on the topic of female genital mutilation
which is a nonmedical practices having no health benefits. It has severe complications and long
terms consequences which are faced by women and girls. However, this is a just a kind of
traditional practice which has genuine reason and purpose but it has been attempted by people
since past several years (Goldberg and et. al., 2016). This project will focus on impact of FGM
on an individual, community and society in terms of socio-political manner. It will also include
role of nurse in order to perform with critiques of privilege, value, beliefs and biases for
addressing the relevant problems. The further discussion about female genital mutilation as a
tradition and culture is given below. I have analysed that FGM is just a negative practice based
on cultural values and beliefs of people which are responsible for violating the human rights of
women and girls faced the same in their lives. It is observed that FGM has no medical purpose
and heath benefit but has severe consequences from which females have suffered for life long
accordingly. It includes that severe bleeding happens and other relevant problems occurs for girls
including sexual intercourse, menstruation and childbirth. However, it consist the criterion of
removing partial or total removal of external genitalia in females which create severe pain and
bleeding.
Considering the problem female genital mutilation, it has been evaluated that FGM is banned in
some countries but it is also permissible in few of nations due to the tradition, culture or religion
followed by people. It is necessary for government of all the countries to consider it as legal and
punishable offence which is important to secure lives of millions of girls at global level.
Meanwhile, it is observed that health promotion campaigns are required to be organised on
regular basis so that people can understand the complications of FGM and encourage them to
stop the same (Abdulcadir and et. al., 2017). I have analysed that individuals belongs of some
communities has myths about FGM which is related to their culture and tradition due to which it
has more strong motive do the same. It is necessary to clear all the relevant myths of people
which facilitate to eliminate this threat from the society. It will provide support to improve
quality of lives spend by women and girls at global level. It is observed that the female genital
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mutilation practices is considered as illegal in United Kingdom and known to be a criminal
offence which helps to reduce this problem somehow in the country. It is required to formulated
and apply strict legislation against FGM in every country which helps to improve quality of lives
of such females who were belongs to those community having tradition to attempt FGM. It is
known as an illegal attempt of it is attempted without consent of an individual due to having
effective political system. I have studied that FGM is permissible in severe countries because of
traditional and cultural beliefs of people but the second reason behind it was there is no socio-
political system working against this context. The strong legal actions are required to be
formulated in respect of eliminating the threat of FGM to make lives of females easy and
comfortable (Smith and Stein, 2017). I have evaluated that countries having strong political
systems has less rate of FGM happened which should be improved day by day to eliminate this
horrible practice.
Considering my study, it has been identified that practice of female genital mutilation is mostly
occurred among African countries where it is a common attempt by people. it is necessary for
government and legal bodies working in their countries are required to take strict action in favour
of females to remove this terrible experience from their lives, it is observed that girls suffer from
its relevant complications for life long as it create the consequences related to sexual intercourse,
menstruation and childbirth. Many times, this problem may leads to death of new-borns due to
which FGM must be prevented for reducing death rates of infants. It is observed that FGM has
long term complications related to urinary infections and relevant problems. The severe
complications make lives of girls and women horrible and they suffer from urinary infections
and sexual problems lifelong (Biglu and et. al., 2016). However, it is observed that around 30
countries are responsible for attempting the FGM from which 27 nations were African which
reflects that Africa requires a huge legal change of policies and legislations in order to reduce
this practice. It is necessary for them to apply strict legislations along with formulating legal
bodies to conduct survey and take immediate actions against people attempting FGM with
females.
On the other hand, I have studied that around 200 million girls have been cut their genitalia
regarding Attempt of FGM in Africa. It is required for WHO to given clear instructions to
belonging countries for making guidelines of giving legal punishments to culprits and provide
proper secured shelter to female victims of FGM. I feel that international legal system should
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approach to Africa for taking strict and long term actions in order to eliminate the threat of FGM
by considering the dame as legal offence. It is necessary to count all the attempt as an offence
which are responsible for violating human rights of an individual. it is required for government
to promote elimination of FGM with the help of social media and community programs for
encouraging citizens to avoid the same. It is required to clear their minds of having false purpose
of FGM and appeal to them for not attempting FGM with girls and women. I think that the factor
of lack of knowledge and myths are mostly responsible to make these practices happen in the
countries. It is necessary for government to provide proper information to common citizens about
complicated effects of FGM among women and its negative impacts on their health as well as
their forthcoming infants (Mahmoud, 2016). I have analysed that female genital mutilation has
no medical reason and it is based on traditional concept which has no benefit of females but it
has critical outcomes. It an attempt of partially or complete removal of external part of female
genital area or any other injury to genital organs. This attempt has no benefit or genuine purpose
nu has several complications that are responsible for making lives of girls or women terrible.
They have to face relevant complications like painful urination, painful sexual intercourse and
difficulty during childbirth or even death of infants.
The effective health promotion models should be in used to make people capable to achieve their
higher levels of wellbeing. It is responsible for motivating care professionals to deliver
appropriate resources to patients in terms of attaining behaviour specific changes for improving
health status. However, I believe that behavioural change model is much effective as well as
efficient to encourage citizens about to eliminate the threat of FGM among females by providing
sufficient level of information about relevant consequences. This model can be considered as
preventive approach along with concentrating on lifestyle of people that is responsible for
affecting the health condition of them. It will influence the lifestyle ad behaviour of individuals
in correct direction which helps to avoid the practices like FGM that facilitate to enhance the
entire health status of people. In addition to this, I have analysed that medical health promotion
model can be used to provide information about severe effects of FGM on entire life of a woman
in clinical way to potentially influence behaviour of citizens to eliminate this practice.
In addition to this, I have analysed that female genital mutilation is non-medical practice which
is generally takes place among young age of girl that is between infancy to 15 years of age. It
includes the fact that are FGM has happened in four different types which are based on choice of
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different communities and their respective traditions accordingly. It is observed that FGM
process is considered as disgusting attempt which has no health benefit but only has harm for
females who have undergone the same procedure (Shell-Duncan, Naik and Feldman-Jacobs,
2016). It has been observed that people have to understand that this practice has harm to their
next generation as many of infants died due to occurrence of complications at the time of
childbirth. It includes the fact that people attempt the practice of FGM with the help of
unsterilized and unsanitary tools which are accountable for increasing risk of urinary infections
for them. This process is really disgusting because it is responsible for boosting up the risk of
occurring severe disease such as HIV/AIDS and other complicated problems for females. I
personally feel that people don’t know about negative impact of FGM due to which they do the
same on the basis of their tradition or culture. it is necessary to make them understand that FGM
can cause the permanent and complicated condition of infertility as well as childbirth
complications. The government has an important role due to which FGM is commonly used in
most of the African countries and they have to become strict for this problem to eliminate this
threat form the society. It will facilitate to make lives of females healthy and comfortable by
avoiding the FGM practice in proper manner (Johnsdotter and Mestre i Mestre, 2017).
On the other hand, I have studied that bog which is helpful to make me understand about severe
outcomes of FGM such as bleeding severely, urinating difficulty, cysts, infections and
complications related to childbirth. It includes the to convey to citizens and communicate to
them about reason behind deaths of infants is FGM so that it should be prevented in the countries
(Cappa, Van Baelen and Leye, 2019). I feel that circumcision is just a traditional attempt which
is required be done but I didn’t paid attention, Now, I have realised the severity of this practices
and complications then it is not difficult to understand about the severe pain felt by girls
undergone this attempt. I can totally understand about the complications and appeal to the
government to take immediate and strict action in order to eliminate the same. The nursing staff
plays an important role for encouraging people to avoid this practice by providing accurate
information related to relevant consequences. It is necessary for them to organise more effective
as well as efficient health promotion campaigns for reducing the attempt of FGM among
communities. Besides of that, government should focus on education level of people and
improve their mind sets to follow legal regulations and norms for avoiding harmful activities like
FGM.
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In addition to this, The attempt of FGM impact negatively and severely on life of an individual
as its long term consequences like death of infants may be faced by their family. it is observed
that death rate of infants has been increased which impact negatively on population of the
community which affect their lives accordingly. Meanwhile, I believe that factor of social justice
should be considered by government and nurse in order to deliver appropriate care to females
undergone FGM to provide their legal and medical services to support them. It will provide
support to make their condition stable and safeguard them for improving their further conditions.
It is necessary to give special rights to women and girls to report in legal departments about the
attempt of FGM as an offence with them (Engelsma, Mackie and Merrell, 2020). It is required
for government establish special departments which help to give justice to such victims
effectively. However, I have a role to provide desired information in detail to my colleagues and
peers in order to fight against FGM for making the country secure for girls along with
eliminating the threat. It is required to contribute towards elimination of FGM from the society to
make it safe for females.
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References
Books and journals
Abdulcadir, J. and et. al., 2016. Female Genital Mutilation. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 128(5),
pp.958-963.
Klein, E. and et. al., 2018. Female genital mutilation: health consequences and complications—a
short literature review. Obstetrics and gynecology international, 2018.
Grose, R.G. and et. al., 2019. Community influences on female genital mutilation/cutting in
Kenya: Norms, opportunities, and ethnic diversity. Journal of health and social behavior, 60(1),
pp.84-100.
Goldberg, H. and et. al., 2016. Female genital mutilation/cutting in the United States: updated
estimates of women and girls at risk, 2012. Public Health Reports, 131(2), pp.340-347.
Abdulcadir, J. and et. al., 2017. Posttraumatic stress disorder relapse and clitoral reconstruction
after female genital mutilation. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 129(2), pp.371-376.
Smith, H. and Stein, K., 2017. Psychological and counselling interventions for female genital
mutilation. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 136, pp.60-64.
Biglu, M.H. and et. al., 2016. Effect of female genital mutilation/cutting on sexual
functions. Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare, 10, pp.3-8.
Mahmoud, M.I.H., 2016. Effect of female genital mutilation on female sexual function,
Alexandria, Egypt. Alexandria Journal of Medicine, 52(1), pp.55-59.
Shell-Duncan, B., Naik, R. and Feldman-Jacobs, C., 2016. A state-of-the-art synthesis on female
genital mutilation/cutting: What do we know now?.
Cappa, C., Van Baelen, L. and Leye, E., 2019. The practice of female genital mutilation across
the world: Data availability and approaches to measurement. Global public health, 14(8),
pp.1139-1152.
Engelsma, B., Mackie, G. and Merrell, B., 2020. Unprogrammed abandonment of female genital
mutilation/cutting. World Development, 129, p.104845.
Johnsdotter, S. and Mestre i Mestre, R.M., 2017. " Female genital mutilation" in Europe: Public
discourse versus empirical evidence. International Journal of Law Crime and Justice, 51, pp.14-
23.
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