Gishiri cutting

Gishiriorgishiricuttingis a form offemale genital mutilationperformed commonly by the Hausa-Fulani people of northernNigeriaand southernNiger.The procedure is believed by traditional practitioners to treat a variety ofgynecologicailments, although there is no scientific basis for this procedure, and it is consideredpseudoscience.

Etymology

The word "gishiri" isHausafor "salt". It refers to the practice of Arab traders who still caravan across theSaharato cities in northern parts ofWest Africa,such asKano, Nigeria.When a customer buys a quantity of salt, the trader produces a long knife and cuts a piece off a large block; this knife is similar to the kind used to produce gishiri cuts.

Procedure and risks

A whole range of gynecological complaints, including difficulty inlabor,infertility,dyspareunia(pain during sex),pelvic organ prolapseandurinary retention,are believed to be caused by a vagina that is too narrow in these areas. The traditional treatment is toincisethe vagina. A long knife is inserted into the vagina and backward cuts from the back of the vagina down into theperineumare made.

Serious injuries can result, such asfistulae:holes in the vaginal walls that separate it from the bladder or the rectum. Sometimes the knife is inserted down theurethrato make the cut, laying bare the entire lower urinary tract. Many women also die fromhemorrhagewhich results from the procedure.

See also

• Vulvectomy