| Female genital mutilation: a multi-country study |
| Authors: |
Koustuv Dalal, Ming-Shinn Lee, Gainel Ussatayeva, and Mervyn Gifford |
| Source: |
Health MED: Journal of Society for development in new net environment in B&H, 9(4): 161 |
| Topic(s): |
Female genital cutting (FGC)
|
| Country: |
Africa
Egypt
Guinea
Mali
Sierra Leone
Multiple African Countries
|
| Published: |
APR 2015 |
| Abstract: |
Objective: Female genital mutilation (FGM)
is a major women’s health problem and human
right violation. FGM has several physical and
psychological consequences. The focus of the current
study is the extent of FGM, the association
of demographic and economic factors with FGM
and women’s beliefs and attitudes towards FGM
in Egypt, Guinea, Mali and Sierra Leone.
Methods: The study used national representative,
cross-sectional, household sample surveys with
large sample of women of reproductive age (15 –
49 years) from each country. Multi stage cluster
sampling and face-to-face interviews were used.
It was cross-sectional analysis, using DHS data.
Cross tabulation, multivariate analyses and bar-diagram
were used.
Results: In Egypt 94%, in Guinea 97%, in Mali
89% and in Sierra Leone, 91%) women had genital
mutilation. The majority of the respondents
believe that FGM that FGM is socially acceptable
and a religious obligation. Majority of the respondents
believe that FGM helps to maintain virginity
and that it leads to better marriage prospects and
the prevention of adultery.
Conclusions: The majority of women in the
four countries argued in favor for the continuation
of FGM. There is an inverse relationship between
FGM and higher education and affluence. Proper
policies and awareness generation among less
educated and less affluent women in rural areas
are warranted in an attempt to reduce FGM.
Key words: Female circumcision, Genital mutilation/
cutting, Egypt, Guinea, Mali, Sierra Leone. |
| Web: |
http://healthmed.ba/pdf/healthmed_9_4_web.pdf#page=28 |
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