Malnutrition during the Seclusion Period

During the initiates’ first weeks of seclusion they are left alone to heal from the circumcision.  During this time they do not drink water to prevent urination, which can delay the healing of the wound.  As a result, there have been reported cases of dehydration.  Cases of malnutrition have also been reported because the initiates are, typically, only allowed to eat a coarse and hard porridge while in the initiation school, and are given a thick liquid made out of corn to drink (Vincent, 2008).