According to the General Directorate of Health, last year the health authorities registered 190 cases of female genital mutilation, which is 24% more than in the same period last year, and more than half of the cases had complications.
Data released by the Directorate General of Health (DGS) in celebration of Zero Tolerance Day for Female Genital Mutilation indicates that 100 women (52.6% of cases) experienced health complications between January and December 2022.
Complications resulting from female genital mutilation “often coexist” according to the DGS. From last year’s data, the health authority lists 75 psychological complications, 64 obstetric, 55 sexual response complications, and 51 urogynecological complications.
The data also indicate a predominance of cases carried out in Guinea-Bissau (70.5%) and Guinea-Conakry (23.7%).
“This aspect reinforces already known information, given the predominance of immigrant communities living in Portugal and the estimated prevalence of female genital mutilation in these countries,” explains DGS.
In a paper published this Monday, the DGS adds that of the total cases reported in 2022, women were predominantly (49.5%) subject to type II mutilation, which includes partial or total removal of the clitoris and labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora and type I (44.7%), referring to partial or complete removal of the clitoris and/or foreskin.
Type III mutilation (narrowing of the vaginal opening by creating a sealing membrane, cutting and aligning the labia minora and/or labia majora) accounted for 3.7% of cases reported in 2022, and type IV mutilation (other harmful interventions not classified) accounted for 2.1%.
Since 2014, there have been 853 reported cases of female genital mutilation in Portugal, according to the DGS.
Of the 190 cases reported on the platform last year, 84.2% (160) of cases were intervened by healthcare professionals “as part of explaining women’s rights from an educational and preventive point of view,” explains the DGS.
Given its severity, he adds, “seven existing type III mutilation records were analyzed.”
“According to records, this type of practice was practiced in Guinea-Bissau (6) and Guinea Conakry (1) from the age of one to 27 with women aged 19 to 19 at the time. registration and 40 years,” the document specifies.
In 2022, according to the records, the age at the time of the procedure ranged from the first year of life to 34 years. However, in about 73% of cases, injuries occurred before the age of 9 years.
Regarding the age at which female genital mutilation occurred, 61.6% of records are silent.
The data released this Monday is part of the 2022 Female Genital Mutilation Records Update.
According to the document, the majority of entries were made in hospitals (77.9%) and 22.1% in primary health care (CSP), which also indicates that the majority of entries were made in units that are part of the Saudi Regional Administration. de Lisbon and Vale do Tejo. (only two registrations occurred with ARS Centro).
The DGS also warns that female genital mutilation, which involves altering or damaging the female genital organs without any medical reason, “may cause health complications, including serious infection, chronic pain, depression, infertility, and death.”
Female genital mutilation is recognized around the world as a violation of human rights, its origin is unclear, but society has practiced it throughout time.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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