Lived experiences and opinions of women of sub-Saharan origin on female genital mutilation: A phenomenological study

Abstract

Aims and objectives: This study aimed to describe and understand the lived experiences and opinions of sub-Saharan women living in Spain in relation to female genital mutilation.

Background: Female genital mutilation is a bloody procedure with serious consequences for the health of women and girls. Understanding mutilated women's lived experiences plays a crucial role in the management of health consequences and could help healthcare professionals to provide assistance to these women.

Design: A descriptive phenomenological study was carried out. The COREQ checklist was followed as guidance to write the manuscript.

Methods: A total of 12 in-depth interviews were conducted. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using ATLAS.ti 9.0.

Results: Two themes with four subthemes were identified from the data analysis: 1) 'The traumatic experience of female circumcision' with the subthemes 'Female mutilation is a physical and psychological torture procedure' and 'recognising and coping with negative emotions'; 2) 'The fight for the eradication of female genital mutilation' which contains the subthemes 'the need for a real sociocultural change at the origin' and '"I want to be the last": Personal development leads to sociocultural change'.

Conclusions: Female genital mutilation was experienced by women as a very aggressive and traumatic event. It causes considerable negative emotions that last over time. Although there is a tendency to reject the practice, in women's countries of origin, there is social pressure for girls to be mutilated.

Relevance to clinical practice: Caring for women who have suffered from female genital mutilation requires awareness of the traumatic experience they underwent when they were girls. Healthcare professionals play a crucial role in eradicating female genital mutilation. Apart from education, preventive measures may include specific recommendations when girls are travelling to the country of origin and participatory action research.

Keywords: female circumcision; female genital cutting; female genital mutilation; lived experiences; qualitative study.