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Disability encompasses the limitations on an individual’s basic physical activities, and the consequent social oppressions such individual faces in society. In this regard, the limitation on the use of some parts of the genitals in a patriarchal system is considered a form of disability. This paper describes the perceptions of and the coping mechanisms employed by affected couples dealing with the consequences of female genital mutilation (FGM) as a form of sexual disability. Cultural Libertarianism was employed as a theoretical framework. The paper presents the results of a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria, with 10 male and 12 female respondents purposively selected through a snowball sampling for in-depth interviews. The findings present the justifications provided for the practice of FGM, and victims’ perceptions of how it affects their sexual relations. Furthermore, it highlights coping strategies employed by affected women and their spouses. The study shows that the disabling consequence of FGM is largely sexual in nature, leading to traumatic experiences and negative beliefs about sex, and requiring a myriad of coping strategies employed by the disabled women, and their spouses, which may have its own implications for marital and sexual bliss. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Concerns about disrespect and abuse (D&A) experienced by women during institutional birth have become critical to the discourse on maternal health. The rapid growth of the field from diverse points of origin has given rise to multiple and, at times, confusing interpretations of D&A, pointing to the need for greater clarity in the concepts themselves. Furthermore, attention to measurement of the problem has been excessive when viewed in relation to the small amount of work on critical drivers of disrespect and abuse. This paper raises some key issues of conceptualisation and measurement for the field, puts forward a working definition, and explores two critical drivers of D&A - intersecting social and economic inequality, and the institutional structures and processes that frame the practice of obstetric care. By identifying gaps and raising questions about the deeper causes of D&A, we point to potentially fruitful directions for research and action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obstetric fistula is a complication of pregnancy that affects women following prolonged obstructed labour. Although there have been achievements in the surgical treatment of obstetric fistula, the long-term emotional, psychological, social and economic experiences of women after surgical repair have received less attention. This paper documents the challenges faced by women following corrective surgery and discusses their needs within the broader context of women's health. We interviewed a small sample of women in West Pokot, Kenya, during a two-month period in 2010, including eight in-depth interviews with fistula survivors and two focus group discussions, one each with fistula survivors and community members. The women reported continuing problems following corrective surgery, induding separation and divorce, infertility, stigma, isolation, shame, reduced sense of worth, psychological trauma, misperceptions of others, and unemployment. Programmes focusing on the needs of the women should address their social, economic and psychological needs, and include their husbands, families and the community at large as key actors. Nonetheless, a weak health system, poor infrastructure, lack of focus, few resources and weak political emphasis on women's reproductive health do not currently offer enough support for an already disempowered group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some 84,000 children with HIV/AIDS live in the Côte d'Ivoire, where very little therapeutic or psychological help is available to them. The Yopougon Child Programme of the "Agence Nationale de Recherche sur le Sida" was launched in Abidjan in October 2000. It provides services for HIV-infected children and psychological consultations for children and their parents. This paper is about the psychosexual development of the HIV-positive adolescents in the Programme, 11 girls and 8 boys aged 13–17, their problems with HIV-related physiological and psychosexual changes, and relationships with their parents. The information was gathered in individual therapy sessions, group discussions and family support sessions. Bodily development was of major importance to these adolescents, particularly among those who had not yet developed secondary sexual characteristics and were shorter and weighed less than their peers. Those who had not achieved puberty were unable to participate in traditional rituals and worried whether they could ever marry or have children. In most cases, adolescents with HIV have been infected by a sexually transmitted virus without having had sexual relations themselves. They need support dealing with their sexual development and sexual feelings, along with medical care, in a context in which HIV infection is a secret, impossible to talk about with their peers. Environ 84 000 enfants séropositifs vivent en Cô te d'Ivoire, où ils ont accès à peu de soins ou de soutien psychologique. Le programme Enfants Yopougon de l'Agence Nationale de Recherche sur le SIDA a été lancé à Abidjan en octobre 2000 et fournit des services aux enfants séropositifs et des consultations psychologiques aux enfants et à leurs parents. L'article décrit le développement psychosexuel des adolescents séropositifs participant au programme, 11 filles et 8 garçons de 13 à 17 ans, les problèmes que suscitent chez eux les changements physiologiques et psychosexuels liés au VIH, et leurs rapports avec leurs parents. L'information provient de séances individuelles de thérapie, de discussions de groupe et de sessions de soutien aux familles. Le développement corporel était très important pour ces adolescents, notamment pour ceux dont les caractéristiques sexuelles secondaires n'étaient pas encore apparentes, et qui pesaient et mesuraient moins que leurs camarades du même âge. Ceux dont la puberté n'était pas achevée ne pouvaient participer aux rituels traditionnels et se demandaient s'ils pourraient se marier et avoir des enfants. La plupart des adolescents avaient été infectés par un virus sexuellement transmissible sans avoir eu de rapports sexuels. Outre les soins médicaux, ils avaient besoin d'aide pour affronter leur développement sexuel et leurs sentiments sur la sexualité, dans un environnement où le VIH est un secret dont ils ne peuvent parler avec leurs camarades. Unos 84,000 niños con VIH/SIDA viven en Côte d'Ivoire, donde tienen acceso a muy poca ayuda terapéutica o psicológica. En octubre 2000, se inauguró en Abidjá n el Programa Infantil Yopougon de la Agence Nationale de Recherche sur le Sida, que provee servicios para niños infectados con VIH y consultas psicológicas para los niños y sus padres. Este artículo examina el desarrollo psicosexual de los adolescentes que participan en el programa (11 niñas y 8 niños de entre 13 y 17 años), sus problemas con los cambios fisiológicos y psicosexuales relacionados con el VIH, y sus relaciones con sus padres. La información se recopiló en sesiones de terapia individual, en plá tica en grupo, y en sesiones de apoyo a lafamilia. A estos adolescentes les importaba mucho su desarrollo fı́sico, especialmente a aquellos que todavı́a no habı́an desarrollado rasgos sexuales secundarios y que eran má s pequeñ os que sus pares. Los niñ os y las niñas que no habı́an alcanzado la pubertad no podı́an participar en rituales tradicionales y les preocupaba la posibilidad de no poder casarse ni tener hijos. La mayorı́a de los adolescentes con VIH está n infectados con un virus transmitido sexualmente sin que ellos hayan tenido relaciones sexuales. Necesitaban apoyo parasobrellevar su desarrollo y sus sentimientos sexuales, y la atención médica, en un contexto donde la infecció n con VIH era secreto e imposible de abordar con sus pares. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]