Yelva, thanks for forwarding this to the L.  I was trying to access the site
from your post but was unable to.  After getting through by other means, I
thought I forward a copy to the L, since the Imam Fatty Branch of the Gambia
government has already issued a decree on the subject.  Thanks for your
services.

Chi Jaama

Joe Sambou

GAMBIA: Female genital mutilation increases infections, researchers say
ABIDJAN, 19 Apr 2002 (IRIN) - Women who have undergone female genital
mutilation in The Gambia have a higher prevalence of bacterial and viral
infections, a recent study of 1348 women aged 15-54 years found.

“Female genital cutting (FGC) is associated with higher levels of bacterial
vaginosis and herpes simplex two virus (HSV2)," the December 2001 study
said. It added: "HSV2 is a known co-factor for HIV transmission. The higher
prevalence of HSV2 suggests that cut women may be at greater risk of HIV
infection."

The researchers, however, found "no association between FGC and commonly
cited negative consequences - damage to the perineum and anus, vulval
tumours, painful sex, infertility, prolapse and other reproductive tract
infections".

Some 58 percent of the women were found with signs of FGC. The researchers
found that the majority of women who had undergone such an intervention
wanted it to continue, while almost all those who had not, wanted it
stopped.

The researchers said the campaign against FGC should adopt a human
rights-based approach. They recommended that it concentrate on women’s
reproductive rights, rather than focus solely on the damaging health effects
of the practice.

"A focus on damaging health consequences is vulnerable to the argument to
medicalise the operation. Eradication of FGC should be addressed as one of
the many rights of women and girls, especially in societies where serious
discrimination occurs," the study noted. Globally, two million girls and
women undergo FGC each year, the researchers said.

The study, titled ‘The long-term reproductive health consequences of female
genital cutting in rural Gambia: a community-based survey’, was carried out
in the central region of Farafenni by researchers from The Gambia and the
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.



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