Our Body Our Health (Jirkeena, Caafimaadkeena): Somali Women’s Narratives on Sexual Health

Women across the globe have been subject to female genital cutting (FGC), with the highest rates in Somalia. FGC can result in sexual concerns, especially sexual pain and lower pleasure. Due to ongoing civil war and climate disasters, there is a large number of Somali immigrants and refugees living...

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Published in:The Journal of sex research Vol. 62; no. 7; pp. 1253 - 1267
Main Authors: Connor, Jennifer Jo, Abdi, Cawo, Chen, Muzi, Salad, Munira, Pergament, Shannon, Afey, Foos, Hussein, Intisar, Robinson, Beatrice “Bean” E.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality 02.09.2025
Subjects:
Adult
Arousal
Circumcision, Female - adverse effects
Circumcision, Female - ethnology
Circumcision, Female - psychology
Civil war
Coping
Female
Female circumcision
Health care
Health care industry
Health services
Humans
Immigrants
Long term
Medical personnel
Middle Aged
Pain
Pleasure
Qualitative Research
Refugees
Sampling
Satisfaction
Sexual behavior
Sexual Behavior - ethnology
Sexual Behavior - psychology
Sexual desire
Sexual health
Sexual Health - ethnology
Sexual intercourse
Sexual satisfaction
Somali language
Somalia - ethnology
United States - ethnology
Women
Young Adult
Somalia
United States
ISSN:0022-4499, 1559-8519, 1559-8519
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Women across the globe have been subject to female genital cutting (FGC), with the highest rates in Somalia. FGC can result in sexual concerns, especially sexual pain and lower pleasure. Due to ongoing civil war and climate disasters, there is a large number of Somali immigrants and refugees living in countries where healthcare providers may be unfamiliar with the impact of FGC. In this qualitative study, sixty Somali women between the ages 20 and 45 and living in the U.S. shared their perspectives on how FGC has affected their sexual lives, including how they have coped with any complications attributed to FGC. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling and interviewed by a bilingual community researcher in either Somali or English. Data were analyzed through a participatory analysis process by academic and community researchers. Themes included sexual desire, arousal, and pleasure; sexual satisfaction; sexual pain at first intercourse; coping with sexual pain at first intercourse; long-term sexual pain, coping with long-term sexual pain. Results are discussed with a focus on agency of the participants, role of partners, and implications for healthcare professionals.
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ISSN:0022-4499
1559-8519
1559-8519
DOI:10.1080/00224499.2023.2288077