Estimating the number of foreign women with female genital mutilation/cutting in Italy (2016)

This study is a Descriptive research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics: Author(s): Farina Patrizia,Livia Elisa Ortensi,and Alessio Menonna FGM/C Type(s): All Health area of focus: None. Objective: To provide an estimate for Italy for the year 2010. Study Population: Women migrants from the main FGM/C practicing countries aged 15-49 living in the Italian region of Lombardy. Findings: It is estimated that some 57 000 foreign girls and women aged 15-49 with FGM/C were living in Italy in 2010. The Nigerian community is the most affected,with around 20 000 women with FGM/C (35.5% of the total number women affected in Italy),followed by the Egyptian community (around 18 600 women with FGM/C; 32.5%). Another 15% of the women affected are from the Horn of Africa,notably from Ethiopia (3200 women; 5.5%),Eritrea (2800 women; 4.9%) and Somalia (2300 women; 4%). Geographical coverage Region(s):Southern Europe Country(ies):Italy Source

September 8, 2023

Estimating the number of women with female genital mutilation in Belgium (2011)

This study is a Descriptive research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics: Author(s): Dubourg Dominique,Fabienne Richard,Els Leye,Samuel Ndame,Tine Rommens,and Sophie Maes FGM/C Type(s): All Health area of focus: Prevalence. Objective: To estimate the number of women with female genital mutilation (FGM) living in Belgium,the number of girls at risk,and the target population of medical and social services (MSSs) concerned. Study Population: women of reproductive age (15-49 years) from a country where excision or infibulation are practiced Findings: Amongst the 22,840 women and girls living in Belgium who are from a country where excision or infibulation are practiced,6,260 had ‘most probably already undergone a FGM’ (women born in the country of origin),and 1,975 were ‘at risk’ (second generation born in Belgium). Geographical coverage Region(s):Western Europe Country(ies):Belgium Source

Estimating the obstetric costs of female genital mutilation in six African countries (2010)

This study is a Descriptive research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics: Author(s): Bishai D,Bonnenfant YT,Darwish M,Adam T,Bathija H,Johansen E,Huntington D; FGM Cost Study Group of World Health Organization FGM/C Type(s): All Health area of focus: Obstetrics. Objective: To estimate the cost to the health system of obstetric complications due to female genital mutilation (FGM) in six African countries Study Population: Girls Findings: The annual costs of FGM-related obstetric complications in the six African countries studied amounted to I$ 3.7 million and ranged from 0.1 to 1% of government spending on health for women aged 15–45 years. In the current population of 2.8 million 15-year-old women in the six African countries,a loss of 130 000 life years is expected owing to FGM’s association with obstetric haemorrhage. This is equivalent to losing half a month from each lifespan Geographical coverage Region(s):Western Africa,Eastern Africa,Northern Africa Country(ies):Burkina Faso,Ghana,Kenya,Nigeria,Senegal,Sudan Source

Estimating the prevalence of female genital mutilation in Portugal (2016)

This study is a Descriptive research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics: Author(s): Teixeira A. L.,and M. Lisboa FGM/C Type(s): All Health area of focus: None. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of FGM/C in Portugal. Study Population: women of reproductive age (15-49 years) and among all women aged ≥15 years; and the number of girls aged

Ethiopia Young Adult Survey A Study In Seven Regions (2010)

This study is a Exploratory research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics: Author(s): Erulkar,Annabel S.,Abebaw Ferede,Worku Ambelu,Woldemariam Girma,Helen Amdemikael,Behailu GebreMedhin,Berhanu Legesse,Ayehualem Tameru,M. Teferi FGM/C Type(s): All Health area of focus: None. Objective: To document knowledge,attitudes,and practices of adolescents and youth with respect to sexual and reproductive health (SRH),including HIV and gender-based violence (GBV); • To determine access to and utilization of services related to SRH,HIV prevention and GBV; and • To measure knowledge,attitudes,and experiences related to violence against women,such as domestic violence,coercion and rape,and FGM/C. Study Population: Adolescent boys and girls Findings: Fifty-eight percent of females in the sample are circumcised and 13 percent do not know their circumcision status. Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is more common in the older age groups,compared to younger age groups,suggesting that it is a practice that may be declining; among girls aged 21–24,66 percent are circumcised compared to 56 percent of girls aged 15–17. Large proportions of girls are circumcised in Afar (90 percent),Oromiya (77 percent),and SNNPR (75 percent).12 Among girls in Afar,33 percent report being infibulated,the most severe form of FGM/C. Girls with no education are more likely to be circumcised (66 percent) compared to girls with higher levels of education (52 percent). Likewise,girls with no education are more likely to be infibulated (6 percent) compared to girls with at least 7 years of education (

Ethiopia: Social dynamics of abandonment of harmful practices. Experiences in four locations (2010)

This study is a Exploratory research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics: Author(s): Dagne Haile Gabriel FGM/C Type(s): All Health area of focus: None. Objective: To provide an analysis of the social dynamics of change in four geographic locations with different ethnic populations in Ethiopia,where interventions were undertaken to support the abandonment of FGM/C and other harmful practices. Study Population: Elders,youth,men and women,community members,community organizations,clan members,dialogue facilitators,uncircumcised girls,staff of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs),teachers,students,government officials,and religious leaders. Findings: The study demonstrated that by addressing FGM/C within a human rights context,community members are able to consider not cutting as a possible alternative to the existing convention of cutting. The human rights perspective also encourages reflection on gender roles,generating interest and dialogue about other social practices that harm women and girls,such as marriage by abduction and early marriage. This comparative analysis offers important insights that can facilitate the scaling up of key strategies to encourage the rapid and mass abandonment of FGM/C across the country. Geographical coverage Region(s):Eastern Africa Country(ies):Ethiopia Source

Ethnological Implication of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting on Girl Child Development and Societal Devaluation of Women in Akpabuyo Local Government of Cross River State (2018)

This study is a Correlation research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics: Author(s): Nyong,S. F.,Ikpeme,B. B.,& Daniel,W. M. FGM/C Type(s): All Health area of focus: None. Objective: The aim of the study was to examine the extent to which Female Genital Mutilation/ Cutting affects the development of female Children and devalues women in Akpabuyo Local Government of Cross River State. Study Population: Community members (own view) Findings: Results demonstrated a high correlation between FGM/C and chronic diseases such as barrenness,postpartum hemorrhage,pre-eclampsia,post-traumatic stress disorder,HIV/AIDS,necrotizing fasciitis,and urinary tract infection. The use of infected equipment increases the risk of infertility,and complications during pregnancies and deliveries. It was determined that FGMC has compromised the health of a substantial number of girl children,making some of them susceptible to the HIV/AIDS virus. Since it has been noticed that FGM/C is a violation of human rights,there is need for greater awareness on the dangers of such practices on the life of the girl child who has been mutilated. Geographical coverage Region(s):Western Africa Country(ies):Nigeria Source

Evaluating changes in the prevalence of female genital mutilation/cutting among 0-14 years old girls in Nigeria using data from multiple surveys: A novel Bayesian hierarchical spatio-temporal model (2021)

This study is a Descriptive research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics: Author(s): Nnanatu CC,Atilola G,Komba P,Mavatikua L,Moore Z,Matanda D,et al FGM/C Type(s): All Health area of focus: None. Objective: To assess how the prevalence and likelihood of female genital mutilation/cutting has changed over time with respect to the roles of socio-cultural norms (operationalized in terms of a woman’s FGM/C status and her support for the continuation of the practice),a girl’s geographical location and other key determinants in the persistence of FGM/C among 0-14-year-old girls in Nigeria,and identify spatial patterns and ‘hotspots’. Study Population: combined rich datasets from six (6) successive waves of the Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) undertaken between 2003 and 2016 using Bayesian hierarchical regression models which explicitly accounted for the inherent spatial and temporal autocorrelations within the data while simultaneously adjusting for variations due to different survey methods and the effects of linear and non-linear covariates. The different years datasets were combined to simultaneously investigate spatial and temporal trends in the practice of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) across the Nigeria 36 states and the federal capital territory (FCT). In addition,by combining the various datasets,we gained more statistical power to better estimate parameters with higher precision. It is hoped that the statistical evidence generated from the study would serve to facilitate the development and implementation of tailored programmatic interventions that would ensure the total eradication of FGM/C in Nigeria. Findings: Results show that prevalence of FGM/C among 0–14 years old girls in Nigeria varied over time and across geographical locations and peaked in 2008 with a shift from South to North. A girl was more likely to be cut if her mother was cut,supported FGM/C continuation,or had no higher education. The effects of mother’s age,wealth and type of residence (urban-rural) were no longer significant in 2016. These results reflect the gains of interventions over the years,but also echo the belief that FGM/C is a social norm thus requiring tailored all-inclusive interventions for the total abandonment of FGM/C in Nigeria. Findings from this study have increased show the extent of success recorded in the fight against FGM/C in Nigeria in the recent years. They give insights on where more resources should be mobilised in order to achieve a permanent abandonment in a social norm driven FGM/C high prevalence community. Such abandonments must be collectively adopted by the community or groups. Other members of the community would then be expected to conform with the collectively adopted change not to have their daughters cut with conformers socially rewarded while defaulters would possibly face social sanctions. A successful intervention programme must,therefore,be all-inclusive and involve partnership with both parents,local governments,policymakers,and community and religious leaders. Notable examples of such programmes are the ‘FGM-Free Village Model’ in Egypt and the Tostan Community Empowerment programme in Senegal. The advanced statistical approach utilised in this study is an important contribution to literature and could be extended to other contexts where there is need to integrate data from multiple sources over large spatial and temporal scales to gain more statistical power. Geographical coverage Region(s):Western Africa Country(ies):Nigeria Source

Evaluating the impact of existing legislation in Europe with regard to female genital mutilation (2004)

This study is a Descriptive research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics: Author(s): Lucas J.D.,Añón Roig M.J.,Flores F.,García Añón J.,Llabrés Fuster A.,Mestre i Mestre R.,Mira Benavent J.,Ruiz Sanz M.,Solanes Corella Á.,Tomas y Valiente Lanuza C.,and Torres Pérez F FGM/C Type(s): All Health area of focus: None. Objective: To compile information about specific or general legislation applicable to FGM in 15 EU Member States,to analyze the difficulties of implementing these legal provisions in 5 EU Member States and to formulate recommendations for an EU strategy on legal actions towards FGM Study Population: police,prosecutors,judges,doctors,nurses,social assistants and immigrants Findings: The research demonstrated that specific criminal law provisions were no guarantee for court cases,neither were they more efficient in punishing FGM than general criminal law provisions. The implementation of FGM legislation met two main obstructing factors: the identification of FGM cases and the evidence gathering. In fact,the implementation was a complex issue and not an obvious or automatic process. Several actors were active at different levels and various determinants influenced the process of implementation. Developing legislation to punish a crime is one thing; the implementation of such legislation is another. Therefore,the latter required sufficient time,means and engagement in order to be successful. Geographical coverage Region(s):Western Europe,Southern Europe,Northern Europe Country(ies):Austria,Belgium,Denmark,France,Finland,Germany,Greece,Ireland,Italy,Luxembourg,Portugal,Sweden,Spain,Netherlands,United Kingdom Source

Evaluating the impact of existing legislation in Europe with regard to Female Genital Mutilation. Spanish National Report (2016)

This study is a Descriptive research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics: Author(s): Javier de Lucas,María José Añón Roig,María Helena Bedoya,Isabel María Fernández,Fernando Flores Giménez,Angeles Galiana Saura,José García Añón,Adriana Kaplan,Antoni Llabrés i Fuster,Maria Isabel Martínez,Ruth Mestre i Mestre,Javier Mira Benavent,José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes,Maria Olivé Elias. Mario Ruiz Sanz,Ángeles Solanes Corella,Carmen Tomas y Valiente,Francisco Torres Pérez and Ana Valero Heredia FGM/C Type(s): All Health area of focus: None. Objective: To evaluate the impact of existing legislation in Europe with regard to Female Genital Mutilation Study Population: police,prosecutors,judges,doctors,nurses,social assistants and immigrants Findings: Among the different professionals,there was some general knowledge about the connection between mutilation and the serious body injury offence fixed in the Penal Code. Most of the socio-sanitary professionals preferred the intervention of social services. In the group of police officers there existed a highlighted tendency to act at the court’s level. In Catalonia,among the Autonomous Catalan police (Mossos d’esquadra) there existed some police officers in charge of pursuing FGM practices. However,as far as other police sectors were concerned (Civil Guard,Local Police,State Police),there was ignorance about the existence of practices of FGM,about the different ways of FGM,and the scarce preparation before the possible accusation of a practice of FGM. Among the police,police bodies in the districts of Girona and Barcelona had a detailed knowledge about the rites of FGM. This was due to the succession of cases and to the larger number of population from areas where FGM was usually practised; and also because they had participated and had at their disposal the protocol for the prevention of the FGM. All the interviewed judicial professionals,knew more or less about the applicable laws in the case of FGM in Spain,and they agreed on the need of juridical intervention in order to prevent or punish FGM. The Catalan areas insisted on the need that the intervention must be preventive,and only taken to court as a last resort,because it initially seemed that it is not a widespread practice and,for that reason,specific regulation wre not necessary but can be included in the general types of injuries set forth in the Penal Code Geographical coverage Region(s):Southern Europe Country(ies):Spain Source