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Gishiri orgishiri cutting is a form offemale genital mutilation performed commonly by the Hausa-Fulani people of northernNigeria and southernNiger. The procedure is believed by traditional practitioners to treat a variety ofgynecologic ailments, although there is no scientific basis for this procedure, and it is consideredpseudoscience.[1]
The word "gishiri" isHausa for "salt". It refers to the practice of Arab traders who still caravan across theSahara to 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.[1][2]
A whole range of gynecological complaints, including difficulty inlabor, infertility,dyspareunia (pain during sex),pelvic organ prolapse andurinary retention, are believed to be caused by a vagina that is too narrow in these areas. The traditional treatment is toincise the vagina. A long knife is inserted into the vagina and backward cuts from the back of the vagina down into theperineum are made.[2][3]
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 theurethra to make the cut, laying bare the entire lower urinary tract. Many women also die fromhemorrhage which results from the procedure.[1]