A scientific approach to the health and obstetrical problems of female genital mutilation of Somali women living in Turkey

Although female genital mutilation is widespread in Africa, it is a worldwide fact that it is practiced by more than 200 million women in many countries, especially in the Middle and Far East. It is performed in different ways in different countries around the world. Lifelong physiological, psychiatric, and obstetric problems are inevitable due to the loss of anatomical tissue in the female genital area after mutilation. In this study, the degree of disability, obstetric problems, behavior, and attitudes of Somali women living in Turkey were investigated. For this purpose, the situation of 190 Somali women in 15 provinces. Female genital mutilation was studied using a variety of parameters, and statistical chi-square tests and continuous quantitative variables were evaluated in normality tests. For this purpose, the data were presented considering the results of parametric or nonparametric tests. It was found that almost all Somali women living in Turkey are circumcised, but the mutilation rate is slightly lower than the global average. Circumcision was closely related to economic status, education, cultural traditions, and family structure. FGM was found to cause many obstetric and psychiatric problems. It was found that the attitude of Somali women living in Turkey towards female genital mutilation changes significantly with increasing education level, household income, awareness, and communication opportunities. Education, cultural change, financial situation, level of health care, and midwifery services effectively reduced FGM.