Wednesday, July 14, 2010
FGM, early marriages land Tarime girls into health trouble
TARIME District in Mara Region (Tanzania) has recorded high number of fistula cases
due to early pregnancies and female genital mutilation (FGM), according to various nurses
and doctors at Tarime District Hospital. Dr.
Kennedy affirmed: "For us to end this problem
or to fight against fistula there is need for more education to the
communities to change the culture of exposing young girls to early
pregnancies and even female genital mutilation".
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TARIME District in Mara Region has recorded high number of fistula cases
due to early pregnancies and female genital mutilation (FGM).
In
an exclusive interview with the 'Daily News' recently, various nurses
and doctors at Tarime District Hospital said that most women who
reported to hospitals had developed fistula and that some had no idea
about the condition.
Obstetric fistula is a hole that develops
between the birth canal and the rectum that make faeces and urine leak
from either side. It results from long, difficult labour and childbirth,
especially in very young girls because of lack of elasticity due to
circumcision or their bodies are still young and not prepared for child
birth.
"We have no correct data on fistula since most women do
not report to hospitals due to various reasons including lack of
awareness," said Mr Golehu Kennedy, a nurse at the Maternity Ward in the
District Hospital.
He said the disease was mainly caused by
early pregnancies and female genital mutilation. According to him, over
200 girls below 18 years deliver at the hospital every year.
"And
most of them are between 11 and 13 years, some fail to deliver and thus
develop various complications including fistula," he said adding that
some end up dying during delivery.
According to available
statistics at the hospital, about 175 women under 18 years delivered at
the hospital between April and December 2009, while 83 have delivered
between January and May this year.
Dr Kennedy said among the
under aged women who delivered between last year and this year, 15 were
between 11 and 13 years. "I have no correct number of those who
delivered through surgery", he said adding; "For us to end this problem
or to fight against fistula there is need for more education to the
communities to change the culture of exposing young girls to early
pregnancies and even female genital mutilation," he noted.
Meanwhile,
elders in Tarime District have been blamed for allegedly marrying girls
under 18 years. Speaking to 'Daily News' in separate interviews in
Tarime district, most people including teachers, nurses and church
leaders said elders should stop marrying young girls and give them
chances to get education.
"Tarime elders, men who are above 40
years should abstain from marrying young girls. They do that because
they have a lot of cows to pay as dowry," said one of teachers who
preferred anonymity. Dr Kennedy said that most of girls under 18 years
delivering at the hospital were always accompanied by old men of 40 to
60 years as their husbands. "Some of their husbands are three times
their age", he added.