Female genital cutting in the Gambia: can education of women bring change?

Author(s):  
Baturu Mboge ◽  
Kenneth Knapp ◽  
Vadim Tantsyura ◽  
Siga Fatima Jagne ◽  
Hasanat Alamgir

Abstract Background In the Gambia, three out of four women of reproductive age have undergone Female Genital Cutting (FGC). Many studies and policy advocates suggest that for such a practice that is deeply rooted in culture, a more holistic approach focusing on educating the population will have sustainable impact. This research examined whether educational level of women has an association with their attitude towards the practice of FGC. Methods Data from the 2013 Gambia Demographic Health Survey (GDHS) were analyzed. The sample included 6217 households: 10,233 females aged between 15 to 49 years and 3831 males between 15–59 years. This study focused only on women participants. The outcome variable was the attitude of women toward the practice of FGC. Results In multivariate regression model, women who were circumcised are found to have 80 times higher odds of supporting FGC [Odds Ratio = 80 (95% CI 50.93–124.4)] compared to uncircumcised women. Women with primary and secondary level education have lower odds of supporting FGC [OR = 0.73 (95% CI 0.915–0.007)) and those with higher education had the lowest odds [OR = 0.28 (95% CI 0.147–0.543)) of supporting FGC relative to women with no education at all. Conclusions Education and awareness programs targeting women who are married and older, those with less education and those who are already circumcised can help change attitudes towards the practice of FGC.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Atlaw ◽  
Kenbon Seyoum ◽  
Habtamu Gezahegn

Abstract Background: - Female genital mutilation (FGM) is the most common harmful traditional practice. Which is characterized by partial or total removal of the female external genitalia for non-therapeutic reasons. Globally, FGM affects about 130 million women and girls. Female Genital cutting (FGC) is a harmful traditional practice which affects the physical and mental health of girls and women. Methods: - Review and meta-analysis was conducted using the guideline of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). Both published and unpublished articles were searched. Articles were searched from different databases like PubMed, Popline, AJOL, EMBASE and gray literature like Google scholar and Google. Articles were searched using terms like “ prevalence ”, “ magnitude”, “female genital cutting” “female genital mutilation”, and “female circumcision” . Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal-Checklist for Analytical Cross Sectional Studies were used to assess the quality of the included paper. Egger’s test and I 2 statistics were used to assess Publication bias and heterogeneity respectively. Result and discussion: - About thirteen studies with total participants of 7850 were included for systematic review and meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of female genital mutilation among reproductive age women in Ethiopia was 87.5%: 95% CI (84.25, 90.78). ). I square test statistics showed high heterogeneity (I 2 =94.4, p=0.000) and Egger’s test was done to check for publication bias, but the test has revealed that there is no statistical significant publication bias (p-value=0.374). Conclusion: - The pooled prevalence of female genital mutilation is high in Ethiopia. Subgroup analysis does not revealed significant difference among different region found in the country.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mustafa Khidir Mustafa Elnimeiri ◽  
Shahenaz seifalseen Mustafa Satti ◽  
Taqwa Mohieldeen Hamid Abdelrahim ◽  
Mohanad Kamaleldin Mahmoud Ibrahim ◽  
Reem Mahmoud Mohamed Abdelbasit ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Female genital cutting( FGC) comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons and it is considered as violation of human rights of girls and women. The overall objective of this study was to explore the social factors contributing in the persistence of this practice despite of the efforts for eradication in Khartoum State-Methods: This was a community based cross-sectional study conducted in Khartoum State- Sudan including the three localities. The study included 920 females within the reproductive age, sampled proportionate to size using multistage cluster sampling The data were collected using standardized administered questionnaire, Data were analyzed using statistical package for social science's version 21. Analysis was composed of descriptive data and Multinominal Regression Test to study the associations between variables of interest.Results: 62% of the participants considered female genital cutting as a violation of girls’ and women’s rights, 20% of them mentioned rejection by husbands as the main risk if daughters were not subjected to female genital cutting ,71% of the participants considered female genital cutting as a harmful traditional practice while 26% did not consider it as such . ] Multinomial logistic regression estimates of daughters have been subjected to any form of female genital cutting and reasons of conduct of female genital cutting and the risk encountered when girls are not subjected to female genital cutting showed ,“the risk encountered when girls are not subjected to female genital cutting” ranked the first place in influence as the regression coefficient of this variable is 68.779, while the main reason for the conduct of female genital cutting ranked the second place in influence as the regression coefficient of this variable is .089.Conclusions: FGC is a cultural practice recognized as a violation of human rights. These findings support the social coordination norm model, and results indicate the widely prevailing misconceptions about FGC/M among the study participants especially among those participants supporting the continuation of FGC/M. Key words Female genital cutting, Social Factors, Violation, Sudan


2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-40
Author(s):  
I. Ikechukwu ◽  
E.C. Isah ◽  
S.E. Ehinze

Background: Female genital cutting (FGC) affects over 200 million girls and women globally. It is inimical to health and increasingly being performed by healthcare providers. Medicalization of FGC is proposed by its proponents to reduce and prevent the incidence of its complications and though perceived to be safer, it is unethical and unjustifiable. This study assessed medicalization of FGC in Sapele Local Government Area, Delta State and made recommendations geared towards ending its practice.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among reproductive age women (15 – 44 years) selected using multi-stage sampling. Pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to obtain quantitative data from 502 women while a focus group discussion guide was used to obtain qualitative data. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 and by themes. Results were presented as tables and narratives.Results: Prevalence of FGC was 277 (55.2%), of which 223 (80.5%) were medicalized. The mean age of cutting was 16.8 ± 5.46 years and nurses performed majority 220 (79.4%) of them. Few 44 (8.8%) of the respondents were aware of possible complications of FGC. Qualitative findings indicated that FGC is still being practiced with nurses being reported as major practitioners.Conclusion: Despite concerted efforts to eliminate FGC, its practice is still propagated with increasing heath workers as practitioners. Advocacy and health education for women and girls as well as training and retraining of health care providers is imperative to check this trend.


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