Female genital mutilation among Iraqi Kurdish women: a cross-sectional study from Erbil city (2013)
This study is a Descriptive research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics:
Author(s): Yasin B,Al-Tawil N,Shabila N,Al-Hadithi T
FGM/C Type(s): All
Health area of focus: None.
Objective: The aim of this study was to determine (i) the prevalence of female genital
mutilation among Muslim Kurdish women in Erbil city,(ii) the patterns and types of female genital mutilation,
(iii) the factors associated with this practice and (iv) women’s knowledge and attitudes towards this practice
Study Population: Women
Findings: The self-reported prevalence of female genital mutilation was 70.3%,while it was 58.6% according to clinical examination of the women’s genitalia. The most common type of female genital mutilation was type I (99.6%) and the most common age at which mutilation was performed was 4–7 years (60.2%). This practice was mostly performed by traditional birth attendants (72.5%). Only 6.4% of mutilated women reported having complications after mutilation,most commonly bleeding (3.6%). The practice was more reported among housewives (OR = 3.3),those women whose mothers were mutilated (OR = 15.1) or with unknown mutilation status (OR = 7.3) and those women whose fathers were illiterate (OR = 1.4) or could only read and write (OR = 1.6). The common reasons for practicing female genital mutilation were cultural tradition (46.7%) and dictate of religion (38.9%). Only 30% of the participants were aware about the health consequences of female genital mutilation. More than one third (36.6%) of the women support the practice and 34.5% have intention to mutilate their daughters.
Geographical coverage
Region(s):Western Asia
Country(ies):Iraq