Health care providers’ and mothers’perceptions about the medicalization of female genital mutilation or cutting in Egypt (2019)
This study is a Descriptive research regarding Medicalized FGM/C with the following characteristics:
Author(s): El-Gibaly,O.,Aziz,M.,& Abou Hussein,S.
FGM/C Type(s): Medicalized
Health area of focus: None.
Objective: This study sought to identify the factors that support the continuation or questioning of FGM/C and the reliance on health care providers to perform FGM/C.
Study Population: Healthcare poviders and mothers
Findings: Study findings suggest that parents who seek medicalized cutting often do so to minimize health risks while conforming to social expectations. Thus,the factors that support FGM/C overlap with the factors that support medicalization. For many mothers and healthcare providers,adherence to community customs and traditions was the most important motive to practice FGM/C. Also,the social construction of girls’ well-being and bodily beauty makes FGM/C a perceived necessity which lays the ground for stigmatization against uncut girls. Finally,the language around FGM/C is being reframed by many healthcare providers as a cosmetic surgery. Such reframing may be one way for providers to overcome the law against FGM/C and market the operation to the clients
Geographical coverage
Region(s):Northern Africa
Country(ies):Egypt