Female genital mutilation among Iraqi Kurdish women: a cross-sectional study from Erbil city

Abstract

BackgroundIraqi Kurdistan region is one of the areas where female genital mutilation is reportedly widely practiced but inadequately studied. The aim of this study was to determine (i) the prevalence of female genital mutilation among Muslim Kurdish women in Erbil city, (ii) the patterns and types of female genital mutilation, (iii) the factors associated with this practice and (iv) women’s knowledge and attitudes towards this practice.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in the primary health care centers and the Maternity Teaching Hospital in Erbil city, involving 1987 women aged 15–49 years. Data were obtained about female genital mutilation status and knowledge and perception towards this practice. The participants were clinically examined to verify the self-reported female genital mutilation status.ResultsThe self-reported prevalence of female genital mutilation was 70.3%, while it was 58.6% according to clinical examination of the women’s genitalia. The most common type of female genital mutilation was type I (99.6%) and the most common age at which mutilation was performed was 4–7 years (60.2%). This practice was mostly performed by traditional birth attendants (72.5%). Only 6.4% of mutilated women reported having complications after mutilation, most commonly bleeding (3.6%). The practice was more reported among housewives (OR = 3.3), those women whose mothers were mutilated (OR = 15.1) or with unknown mutilation status (OR = 7.3) and those women whose fathers were illiterate (OR = 1.4) or could only read and write (OR = 1.6). The common reasons for practicing female genital mutilation were cultural tradition (46.7%) and dictate of religion (38.9%). Only 30% of the participants were aware about the health consequences of female genital mutilation. More than one third (36.6%) of the women support the practice and 34.5% have intention to mutilate their daughters.ConclusionsPrevalence of female genital mutilation among Muslim Kurdish women in Erbil city is very high; although, most cases are of type I. There is clear lack of knowledge about the health consequences of female genital mutilation and a relatively important segment of women support this practice. Custom or tradition and dictate of religion are the main reasons for this practice that need further in-depth exploration.

Why Female Genital Cutting Remain High in Hababo Guduru District, West Ethiopia: A Qualitative Study

“…Even though no religious scripts state FGC as religious requirement, some people relate FGC to Islamic religion [14]. On the contrary, the current data reports that, FGC was not religious requirement.…”

Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting among Women of Somali and Kurdish Origin in Finland

“…Saleem et al found that children of uneducated mothers were eight times more likely to have FGM/C compared with children of mothers with over nine years of education . Both the education of the girl's father and the employment status of the girl's mother have been shown to be significant factors associated with FGM/C . FGM/C is usually performed in childhood, and may bear little relationship with current socio‐demographic status.…”

“…A limitation was that the subject of FGM/C is very sensitive. It is known that the self reporting of different forms of FGM is unreliable and underreporting is common but also overreporting has been documented . While the FGM/C‐status was not examined, only asked about, underreporting is more likely as is recall bias, as not all those interviewed would be able or willing to tell about their FGM/C situation in the interview.…”

Expereince of Female Genital Cutting and Sexual Satisfaction Among Rural Married Women in El Beheria Goveronorate

“…EDHS (2015) (El Zanaty F,2015) reported similar findings, as more than half of women thought that FGC is a religious requirement and less than half of them believed that the practice deters adultery. Furthermore, Yasin B et al (2013) reported that the common reasons for practicing FGC were cultural tradition and religion.…”