Effects of antenatal care visits and health facility delivery on women's choice to circumcise their daughters in sub-Saharan Africa: evidence from demographic and health surveys

Abstract

Background This study examines the association between maternal healthcare service utilisation and circumcision of daughters in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Methods This study is based on a cross-sectional study design that draws on analysis of pooled data from current demographic and health surveys conducted between 2010 and 2019 in 12 countries in SSA. Both bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression models were employed. Results Mothers who had four or more antenatal care visits were less likely to circumcise their daughters compared with those who had zero to three visits. Mothers who delivered at a health facility were less likely to circumcise their daughters than those who delivered at home. With the covariates, circumcision of daughters increased with increasing maternal age but decreased with increasing wealth quintile and level of education. Girls born to married women and women who had been circumcised were more likely to be circumcised. Conclusions This study established an association between maternal healthcare service utilisation and circumcision of girls from birth to age 14 y in SSA. The findings highlight the need to strengthen policies that promote maternal healthcare service utilisation (antenatal care and health facility delivery) by integrating female genital mutilation (FGM) information and education in countries studied.

Determinants of Female Genital Mutilation Among Under Five-Year Children in Motta Town, Northwest Ethiopia, 2022: Unmatched Case Control Study

“…This conclusion agrees with one from a study conducted in sub-Saharan Africa. 19 This is because mothers who did not receive maternal care (antenatal and postnatal care) had a different perception of the health consequences of female genital mutilation than mothers who did receive maternal care. Those mothers who had maternal care services can have a chance to access health education about the impacts of the practice and have a chance to observe posters and magazines related to the impacts of female genital mutilation.…”

“…The questions were adopted and adapted from EDHS and other analogous studies conducted in the past. 5,[17][18][19] Face validation was done for adapted questions. It includes socio-demographic-related factors, knowledge-related factors, attitude-related factors, and maternal health-care utilization-related factors.…”