Types
of Harmful Practices
of Harmful Practices
1.)
Bride price also
know as bride wealth, bride token, is an amount of money or property or wealth
paid by groom or his family to the parent of a woman upon the marriage of their
daughter to the groom (compare dowry, which is paid to the groom or used by the
bride to help establish the new household, and dower which is properly settled
on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage). The agreed bride
price may or may not be intended to reflect the perceived value of the girl or
young woman. In the Jewish
Bride price also
know as bride wealth, bride token, is an amount of money or property or wealth
paid by groom or his family to the parent of a woman upon the marriage of their
daughter to the groom (compare dowry, which is paid to the groom or used by the
bride to help establish the new household, and dower which is properly settled
on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage). The agreed bride
price may or may not be intended to reflect the perceived value of the girl or
young woman. In the Jewish
tradition, the rabbis in ancient times insisted on
the marriage couple entering into a marriage contract called ‘ketubah’. The
ketubah provided for an amount to be paid by the husband in the event of a
divorce.
2.)
Wife
Inheritance: In the terms of the
recognition of customary marriage Act 120 of 1998 (RCMA) a customary marriage
must be negotiate and entered into the accordance with customary law. Customary
marriages include polygamous practices. Polygamy includes LEVIRATE AND SORORATE
UNIONS, although the RCMA is silent about this. As it has been a cultural practice,
it is still practised by some communities. If the inheriting of the deceased’s
spouse is conducted according to the custom of that community, and the widower
or widow and the deceased spouse’s relative consent, then that marriage is a
valid marriage under the RCMA. In some country like south Africa in 2010, a
woman or widows are force to marry the brother or any relative of the deceased
husband. The widow require to choose a husband without knowing who she is
choosing because she is given a few sticks to choose from, and the stick she
chooses will determine who the husband is.
Wife
Inheritance: In the terms of the
recognition of customary marriage Act 120 of 1998 (RCMA) a customary marriage
must be negotiate and entered into the accordance with customary law. Customary
marriages include polygamous practices. Polygamy includes LEVIRATE AND SORORATE
UNIONS, although the RCMA is silent about this. As it has been a cultural practice,
it is still practised by some communities. If the inheriting of the deceased’s
spouse is conducted according to the custom of that community, and the widower
or widow and the deceased spouse’s relative consent, then that marriage is a
valid marriage under the RCMA. In some country like south Africa in 2010, a
woman or widows are force to marry the brother or any relative of the deceased
husband. The widow require to choose a husband without knowing who she is
choosing because she is given a few sticks to choose from, and the stick she
chooses will determine who the husband is.
Consequences
1.) If the woman refuse to marry one of the
men selected, she will be banish from home and she will lose custody and all
her inheritance.
men selected, she will be banish from home and she will lose custody and all
her inheritance.
2.) The consequence of bride pride, is that it brings violence and
harassment to the girl or woman. Because due to the girl’s parent have received
a high bride price, the girl will be put under pressure to stay with or return
to her violent husband, so that they do not have to return the bride price.
harassment to the girl or woman. Because due to the girl’s parent have received
a high bride price, the girl will be put under pressure to stay with or return
to her violent husband, so that they do not have to return the bride price.
3.) This has also lead to divorce due the fear the woman have for
her husband which lead to unfriendly family, no communication, quarrel and fight.
her husband which lead to unfriendly family, no communication, quarrel and fight.
4.) These also expose the couple to intermarital relationship
which will expose them to HIV either from the man or the woman.
which will expose them to HIV either from the man or the woman.
Female Genital
Mutilation (FGM)
Mutilation (FGM)
FEMALE: This
means a girl child or women.
means a girl child or women.
GENITAL: The external reproductive
organ of a person.
organ of a person.
MUTILATION:
Damaging somebody’s body very severely
especially by cutting or tearing of part of it.
Damaging somebody’s body very severely
especially by cutting or tearing of part of it.
Therefore
female genital mutilation is the partial or total removal of the external
female genitalia the Government of Nigeria in the last decade recognised the
practice as harmful to children and women and have embarked on corrective
measure aimed at addressing the end of the practice:
female genital mutilation is the partial or total removal of the external
female genitalia the Government of Nigeria in the last decade recognised the
practice as harmful to children and women and have embarked on corrective
measure aimed at addressing the end of the practice:
Female
genital mutilation is practiced in about 28 African countries as well as in few
scattered communities in other part of the world. It is one of the most serious
forms of violence against the girl child/women and it is practiced in Nigeria
for a number of reasons.
genital mutilation is practiced in about 28 African countries as well as in few
scattered communities in other part of the world. It is one of the most serious
forms of violence against the girl child/women and it is practiced in Nigeria
for a number of reasons.
1.) Psychosexual:
To attenuate sexual desire in female, maintain chastity and virginity before
marriage and fidelity during marriage and also to increase male sexual please.
To attenuate sexual desire in female, maintain chastity and virginity before
marriage and fidelity during marriage and also to increase male sexual please.
2.) Sociological: For
identification with the cultural heritage, initiation of girls into womanhood.
identification with the cultural heritage, initiation of girls into womanhood.
3.) Hygiene and Aesthetic:
Among some societies the external female genitals are considered unclean and
unsightly, and so are removed to promote hygiene and provide aesthetic appeal.
Among some societies the external female genitals are considered unclean and
unsightly, and so are removed to promote hygiene and provide aesthetic appeal.
4.) Religious: Female
genital mutilation is practiced in a number of communities under the mistake and
belief that it is demanded by certain religion.
genital mutilation is practiced in a number of communities under the mistake and
belief that it is demanded by certain religion.
Procedures
Type 1-
Clitoridectomy: This is the least serve form
of the practice and involve the removal of the hood of the clitoris. It is also
known as the sunna.
Clitoridectomy: This is the least serve form
of the practice and involve the removal of the hood of the clitoris. It is also
known as the sunna.
Type 2:
This is a more severe practice involve the removal of the clitoris along with
partial or total excision of the labia minora.
This is a more severe practice involve the removal of the clitoris along with
partial or total excision of the labia minora.
Type 3: This
is known as infibulations and most severe form of female genital mutilation. It
involve the removal of the clitoris, the labia mionra and the adjacent mednal
partle labia majora and also the stitching of the vaginal opening leaving an
opening the size of a pin head to allow the flow of urine and menstrual flow.
is known as infibulations and most severe form of female genital mutilation. It
involve the removal of the clitoris, the labia mionra and the adjacent mednal
partle labia majora and also the stitching of the vaginal opening leaving an
opening the size of a pin head to allow the flow of urine and menstrual flow.
Type 4: Which
is the worst of it all is the pricking, piercing, incision cauterization
(application of a heat to stop bleed or promote healing) it also involve the
scrapping of the vaginal orifice.
is the worst of it all is the pricking, piercing, incision cauterization
(application of a heat to stop bleed or promote healing) it also involve the
scrapping of the vaginal orifice.
Implication of FGM
1.) It can result in death through severe
bleeding, pain and trauma and overwhelming infection
bleeding, pain and trauma and overwhelming infection
2.) It has dangerous health implication
because of the unsanitary condition in which it is practiced
because of the unsanitary condition in which it is practiced
3.) It is fundamental violation of human
right because it is carried out at a very young age when there is no
possibility of the individual consent.
right because it is carried out at a very young age when there is no
possibility of the individual consent.
4.) It can lead to low sensation of sex.
5.) It can lead to pain sexual intercourse.
6.) It can lead to painful menstruation.
7.) It can lead to difficulty in child
bearing which is called cervical stenosis.
bearing which is called cervical stenosis.
8.) It can lead to urinary tract infection.
9.) It can lead to vesticle vaginal fistula
(vvf).
(vvf).
Traditional Harmful
Practices
Practices
Male
Preferences:
Preferences:
The
tradition of inheritance for father to son in many societies., reliance on boys
to provide economic support, ensure security in old age, continuation of family
name, perform death rite place greater value on son than daughter and so there
is huge pressure on women to produce sons which not only affect women sexual
and reproductive life with implication for their health survival but also put
women in a position where they must perpetuate the lower status of female
children.
tradition of inheritance for father to son in many societies., reliance on boys
to provide economic support, ensure security in old age, continuation of family
name, perform death rite place greater value on son than daughter and so there
is huge pressure on women to produce sons which not only affect women sexual
and reproductive life with implication for their health survival but also put
women in a position where they must perpetuate the lower status of female
children.
Consequences of Son
Preference
Preference
Preference
of male over female children has lead to abortion of female foetus which has
lead to infertility, obstructed labour and increase maternal mortality, lack of
women available for marriage in some society, violence, divorce abandonment,
malnutrition of female children.
of male over female children has lead to abortion of female foetus which has
lead to infertility, obstructed labour and increase maternal mortality, lack of
women available for marriage in some society, violence, divorce abandonment,
malnutrition of female children.
Extreme Hot Bath
The
procedure is carried out after parturition to the mother by the traditional
birth attendant with the motive of increasing the flow rate of lochia during
puerperium. The normal lochia flow is expected to have last between nine to
fourteen days with the hot bath flow that suppose last till the normal days
will suddenly stop within three to five days.
procedure is carried out after parturition to the mother by the traditional
birth attendant with the motive of increasing the flow rate of lochia during
puerperium. The normal lochia flow is expected to have last between nine to
fourteen days with the hot bath flow that suppose last till the normal days
will suddenly stop within three to five days.
Implication of
Practise
Practise
1.) Puerperium disorder
2.) Retain of infected liquor
3.) Burn to the abdominal pelvic and vaginal
wall
wall
4.) It will certainly increase pain to the
mother increase of vaginal ulceration
mother increase of vaginal ulceration
5.) Injuries.
Beneficial
Practices
Practices
1.) Keeping our virginity till marriage:
It helps in preventing sexual
transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy.
transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy.
It helps a person better develop multi
dimensional well-rounded relationships. Ideally intellectual and spiritual
attractions should precede emotional romantic attraction.
dimensional well-rounded relationships. Ideally intellectual and spiritual
attractions should precede emotional romantic attraction.
2.) Continuous breast feeding for 2 years:
It helps to promote the health of
both mother and infant.
both mother and infant.
It helps to prevent disease and promote the
mental health of infant from childhood to adolescent.
mental health of infant from childhood to adolescent.
3.) Relieving women from work after delivery:
A woman that have delivered a baby should have
time to rest because the woman’s body need time to get back to the way it was
after nine months ago.
time to rest because the woman’s body need time to get back to the way it was
after nine months ago.
4.) Giving infant (24 hours of age) water as soon as he is washed
to prevent neonatal hypoglycaemia (a result of deficiency of glucose in
the blood stream causing muscular weakness and incordination, mental confusion
and sweating).
to prevent neonatal hypoglycaemia (a result of deficiency of glucose in
the blood stream causing muscular weakness and incordination, mental confusion
and sweating).
5.) The traditional massage (baby massage):
Is the method of rubbing and kneeding of the
baby to relieve tension or pain this is beneficial practice because:
baby to relieve tension or pain this is beneficial practice because:
1.) It helps to reduce crying and fussiness.
It helps the baby to sleep more
peacefully.
peacefully.
It makes the baby relaxed.
6.) Birth spacing:
This refers to the time interval from one child
birth date until the next child’s birth date. It is beneficial practice
because:
birth date until the next child’s birth date. It is beneficial practice
because:
Baby can be born at the right time
and have a healthy weight.
and have a healthy weight.
Baby can develop well because parent
gives much attention to them.
gives much attention to them.
Family have much time to bond with
each other.
each other.
Family can have less financial
stress.
stress.
The Roles of Health
Workers against Harmful Practices
Workers against Harmful Practices
1.) Health educate the community about the
side effect of female circumcision and advice the community to eliminate the discrimination
against women and to eliminate female circumcision.
side effect of female circumcision and advice the community to eliminate the discrimination
against women and to eliminate female circumcision.
2.) A health worker has to seek to find
positive roles for adolescent girls through education, training so that they
will not rush into early marriage.
positive roles for adolescent girls through education, training so that they
will not rush into early marriage.
3.) The health workers should make a campaign
against harmful traditional practices through radio, television and even town
criers.
against harmful traditional practices through radio, television and even town
criers.
4.) A health worker that found herself where some certain
proteinous food are forbidden. A food demonstration should be carried out in
that community so that the people will know the importance of the food they are
avoiding.
proteinous food are forbidden. A food demonstration should be carried out in
that community so that the people will know the importance of the food they are
avoiding.
5.) During antenatal health worker should health educate them
against some traditional harmful practices that can have bad effect on them and
the unborn child. For example, in some community when the husband is not at
home, the woman is not permitted to go to the health facility when she wants to
deliver.
against some traditional harmful practices that can have bad effect on them and
the unborn child. For example, in some community when the husband is not at
home, the woman is not permitted to go to the health facility when she wants to
deliver.
6.) Health workers should make it a priority
to eliminate harmful traditional practices when refugees are resettled to
countries that have laws against female.
to eliminate harmful traditional practices when refugees are resettled to
countries that have laws against female.
7.) Health workers should emphasize that the
practices is detrimental to women health and well-being when addressing the
community and the leaders.
practices is detrimental to women health and well-being when addressing the
community and the leaders.
8.) The department of health should work with
the relevant regulatory and harmful traditional practices.
the relevant regulatory and harmful traditional practices.
