Empowering change: A cross-sectional study on quality of life in deinfibulated women at Saudi Teaching Hospital, Kassala-Sudan 2023–2024

Deinfibulation [opening the scar of infibulation] is a minor operation involving a vertical incision to the scar to expose the urethra and vagina. Deinfibulation may improve the quality of life for infibulated women. The quality of life after deinfibulation has been sparsely investigated. This study aims to fill this gap by evaluating the quality of life in deinfibulated women, examining the effects of deinfibulation on the urogenital system, and identifying the reasons for not performing reinfibulation. The study aimed to evaluate the quality of life in women who have undergone deinfibulation and to assess the impact of deinfibulation on the urogenital system. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Saudi Teaching Hospital in Kassala, involving 73 women who previously underwent infibulation and subsequently underwent deinfibulation. Data collection included sociodemographic information, gynecological and obstetric history, reasons for deinfibulation, reasons behind not performing reinfibulation, and assessments of complications such as urinary tract infections and sexual symptoms. Among the participants, 54.8% had female genital mutilation type III FGM, while 45.2% had female genital mutilation type IV. The percentage of women with regular menstrual cycles increased to 100% after deinfibulation. Dysmenorrhea was reported by only 9.6% of participants after deinfibulation. The prevalence of obstructed labor decreased to 1.4%. Episiotomy was performed on all women before deinfibulation, with 78.1% reporting it after deinfibulation. None of the participants had blood loss after deinfibulation. Before deinfibulation, 24.7% of women reported various sexual symptoms, while urinary tract infections were more prevalent at 87.8%. The pain was the primary reason for not undergoing reinfibulation 50.7%, and vaginal delivery was the most common reason for deinfibulation 97.3%. Deinfibulation has the potential to enhance the quality of life for women who have undergone infibulation and demonstrates positive effects on the urogenital system.