Prevalence and attitudes on female genital mutilation/cutting in Egypt since criminalisation in 2008

Abstract

Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), which can result in severe pain, haemorrhage and poor birth outcomes, remains a major public health issue. The extent to which prevalence of and attitudes toward the practice have changed in Egypt since its criminalisation in 2008 is unknown. We analysed data from the 2005, 2008 and 2014 Egypt Demographic and Health Surveys to assess trends related to FGM/C. Specifically, we determined whether FGM/C prevalence among ever-married, 15-19-year-old women had changed from 2005 to 2014. We also assessed whether support for FGM/C continuation among ever-married reproductive-age (15-49 years) women had changed over this time period. The prevalence of FGM/C among adolescent women statistically significantly decreased from 94% in 2008 to 88% in 2014 (standard error [SE] = 1.5), after adjusting for education, residence and religion. Prevalence of support for the continuation of FGM/C also statistically significantly decreased from 62% in 2008 to 58% in 2014 (SE = 0.6). The prevalence of FGM/C among ever-married women aged 15-19 years in Egypt has decreased since its criminalisation in 2008, but continues to affect the majority of this subgroup. Likewise, support of FGM/C continuation has also decreased, but continues to be held by a majority of ever-married women of reproductive age.

Prevalence, knowledge, attitude and practices of female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C) among United Arab Emirates population

“…This decrease, which has also been reported in other recent studies [16,17], may be associated with several factors, perhaps the most important of which is the criminalization of FGM/C [18]. This trend has been very clear in Egypt since the 2008 criminalization of FGM/C [17]. We believe that the advances in women's education and improvements in the awareness of health issues in the UAE may have played a role in this decrease.…”

“…While, at 41.4%, there was a high prevalence of FGM/C among our study participants, only 13.7% of the participants' daughters had undergone FGM/C, which may indicate a decrease in the prevalence of the practice. This decrease, which has also been reported in other recent studies [16,17], may be associated with several factors, perhaps the most important of which is the criminalization of FGM/C [18]. This trend has been very clear in Egypt since the 2008 criminalization of FGM/C [17].…”

Community gender systems and a daughter’s risk of female genital mutilation/cutting: Multilevel findings from Egypt

“…We controlled for mother-daughter characteristics that have been associated with a daughter's risk of experiencing FGMC. We included the daughter's birth year in calendar years to control for cohort differences in FGMC risk [33], daughter's birth order among daughters [34], mother's age in years [20,34], father's schooling attainment (1 = completed secondary or higher, 0 = less than completed secondary) [34,85], and a DHS-created household wealth score dichotomized to capture the wealthiest two quintiles (top 40%) versus the bottom 60% of households [3,34].…”

“…In 1995, 97% of ever-married women 15-49 years were cut [29][30][31][32]. Since FGMC was criminalized in 2008, most girls 15-19 years continue to be cut (88% in 2014 vs. 94% in 2008) [33], and the majority of ever-married women 15-49 years support continuation (58% in 2014 vs. 62% in 2008) [33]. Thus, this study fills conceptual and empirical gaps in research on the multilevel influences on FGMC in the so-called classic patriarchal belt of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).…”

‘I want what every other woman has’: reasons for wanting clitoral reconstructive surgery after female genital cutting – a qualitative study from Sweden

“…FGC is widespread: estimates suggest that up to 200 million women and girls worldwide may have undergone it in some form (UNICEF 2016a). FGC is largely seen as an African phenomenon but is also practised in several Middle Eastern and Asian countries (Alkhalaileh et al 2017;Rashid, Patil, and Valimalar 2009), even if attitudes and practices regarding FGC are changing (Van Bavel, Coene, and Leye 2017; Graamans et al 2018). Migration has turned FGC into a global phenomenon, with more than half a million cut women and girls living in Europe, for example (Van Baelen, Ortensi, and Leye 2016).…”