Subjugating Cultural Underpinnings of the Perceptions and Effects of Victims of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the Kandiga Community of Northern Ghana

Abstract

The study explored the subjugating cultural underpinnings of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the Kandiga Community of Northern Ghana. It also looked at the perceptions of victims of FGM and how the practice affects them in their daily lives. Qualitatively, a case study design was adopted. A sample size of 20 was purposively sampled. Interview sessions were employed in the data collection. Thematic procedures were adopted in analysing the data collected. The major findings of the study indicated that female genital mutilation is a cultural issue and it is still practiced among rural communities as a way of preserving custom and cultural heritage. It was also revealed that female genital mutilation has negative effects such as health associated problems, sexual, physical, psychological and social challenges. It emerged from the findings that victims sometimes experience complications and bleed excessively during child birth. The study recommended among other issues that, government should enforce laws that ban cultural practices that are injurious and degrading to human beings especially women and their sexuality.  Government should make frantic efforts to enforce laws that make FGM criminal so that perpetrators can face prosecutions and sentences. Ministry of Health through the community health workers including nurses should implement programmes and organise durbars to sensitize various people in communities identified to be practicing FGM.

Keywords: Female, Cultural Practices, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Perceptions, FGM Victims