Female Genital Mutilation Practice And Its Effects On Women’s Reproductive Health In Barwaqo Ward, Warta Nabada District, Mogadishu Somalia

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is total or partial removal of external female genitalia for non-medical rationale. The practice is mostly common in sub Saharan Africa. An approximated number of between 100-140 million women have undergone FGM and 3 million girls yearly are perceived to be at risk globally.  Somalia has the highest global prevalence (98%) of FGM. A number of studies demonstrate significant association between FGM and various gynecological and pregnancy complications. The main objective of the study was to assess FGM practice and its effects on women’s reproductive health. The study adopted a descriptive crosssectional design to establish the socio demographic characteristics, knowledge and attitudes of FGM, socio cultural and religious beliefs and health complications experienced by women who had undergone FGM. The study was conducted in Warta Nabada District in Banadir region of Somalia. Sample size of 344 women aged 15 to 49 years was determined using the Fisher formula and finite correction for proportions. Systematic sampling was used to select households from which respondents were purposively selected if one and randomly selected if many to complete questionnaires. Key informants and focus group discussion participants including professional midwives, head nurses and traditional birth attendants, women organizations, religious leaders, local authority of the district and youth organizations were purposively selected. Validity of research tools was ensured through pretest and reliability through Cronbach alpha of 0.86. Data was entered, coded and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Descriptive statistics were used to generate frequencies and proportions. Chi square test were used to test the association of the variables.  The qualitative data was coded and analyzed using content analysis approach and presented in verbatim. Ethical approval was sought from University, permission from various authorities and consent from all respondents.