Social media users in Nigeria have called for stricter laws to prosecute medical practitioners performing the husband stitch on non-consenting patients.
This call came in response to DUBAWA’s latest in-depth report, which outlined the experiences of women who had been victims of this procedure, called the husband stitch.
The Husband Stitch is an additional suture or series of sutures placed when repairing a vaginal laceration or episiotomy after childbirth. Its purpose is to tighten the vaginal introitus for the male partner’s sexual pleasure.
DUBAWA observed Nigerians’ outrage at the practice, as many wondered why it exists.
‘Offenders should be prosecuted’
Across the social media platforms where the report was shared, users condemned the practice, urging for stricter laws around childbirth in Nigeria.
On Facebook, a user, Mazi Nwosu Ebubechukwu, wrote, “If not for the erotic mindsets of some people, why do ‘husband stitches’ exist? The painful truth is that in most cases, the woman is unaware that this act was performed. However, from the information I’ve gathered on this prurient and demeaning act against women, there should be legislation to criminalise it when done without the woman’s consent.”
Another user, @iliketrees4, reacting to the documentary on YouTube, argued that anyone who performs the husband stitch on women should be prosecuted accordingly.
“There is no ignorance about it. It is documented in the medical notes which healthcare professional performed the sutures. Name and shame, fine, retrain and suspend them from practice until they write a reflection and apologise for what they did, and treat the women free of charge to reverse the stitch and any complications.”
Peace Mmesoma replied, “This is a traumatising experience. She’s supposed to sue the nurse. What nonsense is that? I won’t even go through any pain of any kind for someone. No, I can’t do that.”
Paris Mercy Odita, “And she can sue them, all this rubbish is happening because a normal Nigerian will see the courtroom as a stress room and prefer God’s judgment.”
‘I’ve never heard of husband stitch’
Some users also confessed to hearing about the concept for the first time and noted that it has increased their awareness. One user, Pre Cious, noted, “I have seen another thing to add to my list of questions to ask during dating. Husband stitch keh?”
@DamilolaAshabi-z8z said, “After watching the video, I realised I’d never even heard of this before, and I can’t understand why the ‘husband stitch’ is a thing. It’s wrong that it’s even done without the patient’s consent. Why will something be done to me for someone else’s pleasure while I suffer the pain?”
“The practice is evil”
On YouTube, where the video documentary was published, users expressed their displeasure with the procedure while sympathising with the survivors who shared their experiences with DUBAWA. @katerinarouskova8232 wrote, “Utterly disgusting! Once again, female bodies are seen as objects.”
On LinkedIn, a user named Janine Gracious remarked, “This is outrageous!” And in response to a comment by another user, Mnguember Agber, who noted she had not heard of such before, Gracious further replied, “There are so many unfortunate practices happening on our continent, and only a few we hear about. Once it goes down to pleasing men, who even gave the doctors the right to conduct such a thing?”
Instagram users also described the practice as outrageous. @amee.abdul termed the husband stitch as “Medical misogyny.” Another user, omotee_ardebeesy, said, Actually, it’s annoying how they teach women that their lives revolve around men.@rootedrising1, noted, “Every day, we hear of new evil against women.”
Osas Gift Adeleke wrote, “The midwife wanted to do this to me; she was saying it with so much excitement, while I was in pain. I told her I wasn’t interested. At this point, the anaesthesia has worn off. Just pains you can’t scream out. Evil practice right there.”
Eby Chinedum noted, “This is a daylight genital mutilation.”
Meanwhile, a digital creator on Facebook, Martin Beck Nworah, reshared the post, encouraging women to get educated and to ensure they provide specific instructions on the procedures to be performed on them during delivery.
“Please, before you go to give birth, ensure your clear instructions are well documented and nobody tries this with you,” part of his post reads.
On the other hand, a YouTube user, @Audacious03, placed the burden on the husbands of such women, especially when medical practitioners make remarks hinting that the husband’s stitches have been administered.
The user wrote, “So what are their men saying? When someone tells a man they made it tighter for him when neither he nor his wife has asked for that favour, and she’s getting serious complications from the procedure, how come he doesn’t complain? Why is she suffering alone if he had nothing to do with it?”
A user, Olajumoke Suulola Olowofela, who identified as a medical practitioner with many years of experience, agreed with the report’s contents, highlighting one of her experiences while practising as a midwife in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, DUBAWA observed a group of users who did not believe such practices existed. They were, however, immediately countered by other users who advised them to conduct some online research to gain a better perspective on what the husband stitch really is.
