Challenges in the eradication of Female Genital Mutilation / Cutting

McCauley, Mary ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1446-0625 and van den Broek, Nynke ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8523-2684 (2018) 'Challenges in the eradication of Female Genital Mutilation / Cutting'. International Health.

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Abstract

Despite more than 40 y of discussion and debate regarding female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), this topic remains controversial and emotive, and the practice continues. FGM/C is defined as ‘all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs, whether for cultural or other non-therapeutic reasons’.1 There are four main classifications of FGM/C (Table 1).1 Type III, or ‘infibulation’, is the most severe form and accounts for 10% of cases.2 It is estimated that more than 200 million girls and women worldwide are living with the effects of FGM/C.2 Of these, 44 million are <15 y of age.2 FGM/C is practised mainly in Africa, with the highest prevalence in Somalia, Egypt, Mali and Sudan, where more than 80% of all women between 15 and 49 y of age have undergone FGM/C.2,3 However, FGM/C is also prevalent in other settings including the Middle East, India and Indonesia. The specific type of FGM/C varies within and between countries.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	WA Public Health > Health Problems of Special Population Groups > WA 395 Health in developing countries WP Gynecology > WP 100 General works WP Gynecology > WP 20 Research (General) WP Gynecology > Anatomy. Diseases. Injuries > WP 400 General works
Faculty: Department:	Clinical Sciences & International Health > International Public Health Department
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihy082
Related URLs:	Publisher
Depositing User:	Stacy Murtagh
Date Deposited:	08 Nov 2018 16:35
Last Modified:	14 Nov 2018 12:17
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/9583

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