Association between female genital mutilation and girl-child marriage in sub-Saharan Africa. (2022)
This study is a Descriptive research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics:
Author(s): Ahinkorah BO,Hagan JE,Seidu AA,Bolarinwa OA,Budu E,Adu C,Okyere J,Archer AG,Schack T
FGM/C Type(s): All
Health area of focus: None.
Objective: To investigate the association between female genital mutilation and girl-child marriage in sub-Saharan Africa.
Study Population: Women aged 20-24 from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys of twelve sub-Sahara African countries were pooled.
Findings: A multilevel logistic regression analysis was employed,with reported adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The overall prevalence of FGM in the twelve countries was 52.19%,with the highest prevalence in Guinea (97.17%). The overall prevalence of girl-child marriage in the twelve countries was 57.96%,with the highest prevalence in Chad (78.06%). Women who had never experienced female genital mutilation were less likely to experience girl-child marriage (aOR=0.76,CI=0.71-0.82) compared with those who had ever experienced female genital mutilation. Age 24 (aOR=0.47,CI=0.43-0.52),secondary/higher level of education (aOR=0.31,CI=0.28-0.35),richest wealth quintile (aOR=0.56,CI=0.47-0.66),exposure to mass media (aOR=0.81,CI=0.74-0.88) medium community literacy level (aOR=0.63,CI=0.57-0.69) and low community socioeconomic status (aOR=0.67,CI=0.49-0.92) were found to be protective against girl-child marriage. The findings reveal that female genital mutilation is associated with girl-child marriage in sub-Saharan Africa. The continued practice will adversely affect the reproductive health outcomes of girls in the sub-region. Policies aimed at eliminating female genital mutilation and girl-child marriage should focus on compulsory basic education,poverty alleviation and increasing access to mass media. Further,campaigns should cover more communities with lower literacy levels and medium socioeconomic status.
Geographical coverage
Region(s):Western Africa,Eastern Africa,Middle Africa
Country(ies):Burkina Faso,Chad,Ethiopia,Guinea,Kenya,Mali,Niger,Nigeria,Senegal,Sierra Leone,Tanzania,Togo