Ekenze S O, Ezegwui H U, Adiri C O
Paediatric Surgical Unit, Department of Surgery, Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Nigeria.
Ann Trop Paediatr. 2007 Dec;27(4):285-90. doi: 10.1179/146532807X245670.
Despite the global outcry against female genital cutting (FGC), the practice continues in many African communities. The morbidity of this practice on the girl child deserves more attention.
To determine the genital lesions complicating childhood FGC and the underlying factors that sustain this practice among the Igbos in south-east Nigeria.
Prospective evaluation of girls with genital complications of FGC between January 2003 and June 2005 at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, south-east Nigeria. The girls' mothers were interviewed at presentation and subsequent visits to determine their perception and attitudes towards FGC.
The average age at presentation was 3.5 years (range 1-5) and the genital cutting procedures were performed 8-90 days after birth. The procedure was undertaken by traditional practitioners in 14 (66.7%) girls and by nurses in 7 (33.3%) girls. Twelve girls (57.1%) had type I genital cutting and nine (42.9%) type II. Inclusion clitoral dermoid cyst and labial fusion were the complications in 13 (61.9%) and eight (38.1%), respectively. Treatment involved complete excision of the cysts and operative division of the labial fusion. Post-operative complications were wound infection (5) and labial adhesion (2). With duration of admission ranging from 3 to 5 days, the average cost of managing each child was $120. Of the girls' mothers, 15 (71.4%) had been educated to secondary level and 17 (80.1%) were aware of the campaign against FGC. Regrettably, all the mothers had genital cutting themselves during childhood and 13 (61.9%) stated that they would like to perpetuate the practice for socio-cultural reasons. Despite this, they all volunteered that FGC is enforced by the child's paternal relations.
Childhood FGC contributes to appreciable morbidity among girls, a large proportion of whom are not managed in a hospital setting. The cost of managing these complications can be enormous, especially in low-resource settings. Girl child education to tertiary level and the involvement of traditional rulers and local decision-makers in the campaign against FGC might help to eradicate the practice.
尽管全球都在强烈反对女性生殖器切割（FGC），但这种做法在许多非洲社区仍在继续。这种做法对女童造成的发病率值得更多关注。
确定尼日利亚东南部伊博族中与儿童期女性生殖器切割相关的生殖器病变以及维持这种做法的潜在因素。
对2003年1月至2005年6月期间在尼日利亚东南部奥韦里联邦医疗中心出现女性生殖器切割相关并发症的女孩进行前瞻性评估。在女孩就诊时及随后的随访中对其母亲进行访谈，以确定她们对女性生殖器切割的看法和态度。
就诊时的平均年龄为3.5岁（范围1 - 5岁），生殖器切割手术在出生后8 - 90天进行。14名（66.7%）女孩由传统从业者进行手术，7名（33.3%）女孩由护士进行手术。12名女孩（57.1%）接受了I型生殖器切割，9名（42.9%）接受了II型切割。包涵体性阴蒂皮样囊肿和阴唇融合分别是13名（61.9%）和8名（38.1%）女孩的并发症。治疗包括囊肿的完全切除和阴唇融合的手术分离。术后并发症有伤口感染（5例）和阴唇粘连（2例）。住院时间为3至5天，每个孩子的平均治疗费用为120美元。在女孩的母亲中，15名（71.4%）接受过中等教育，17名（80.1%）知晓反对女性生殖器切割的宣传活动。遗憾的是，所有母亲在童年时期都接受过生殖器切割，13名（61.9%）表示出于社会文化原因希望延续这种做法。尽管如此，她们都自愿表示女性生殖器切割是由孩子的父系亲属强制执行的。
儿童期女性生殖器切割导致女孩出现明显的发病率，其中很大一部分女孩没有在医院环境中接受治疗。处理这些并发症的费用可能很高，尤其是在资源匮乏的地区。女童接受高等教育以及传统统治者和地方决策者参与反对女性生殖器切割的宣传活动可能有助于根除这种做法。
