Prevalence, knowledge, attitude and practices of female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C) among United Arab Emirates population
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Authors
Ucenic, Teodora
Kindi, Nourah Al
Balayah, Zuhur
Osman, Nawal
Al-Jefout, Moamar
Awar, Shamsa Al
Issue Date
2020-04-22
Type
Article
Language
en_US
Keywords
Female Genital Mutilation , Female Genital Cutting , Female Circumcision , UAE , Social Impact , Attitude , Prevalence
Alternative Title
Abstract
Background:
Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is a common practice in developing countries, including the UAE, and presents a major health problem.
Methods:
A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 1035 participants: 831 (80.3%) females and 204 (19.7%) males.
Results:
The number of women with FGM/C was 344; hence the prevalence of FGM/C in our study was 41.4%. Type I was the most prevalent (62.8%), followed by Type II (16.6%) and Type III (5%). FGM/C was less prevalent among educated and employed women (p-value < 0.001) and was mostly performed during infancy and childhood. Among the participants, 13.7% reported that their daughters had undergone FGM/C, with Type I being the most common, and 25% of them planned to have their future daughters undergo Type I FGM/C. While FGM/C was mostly performed by ritual circumcisers (74.4%), in 25 and 36.7% of the cases, it was performed by health professionals and in the clinic setting, respectively. About 69% of the participants considered FGM/C a custom, 72.8% were against the practice, and only 17.4% believed in its legality. Complications occurred in 30% of cases. The type of FGM/C was associated with the occurrence of complications: bleeding, difficulties in sexual life, and delivery-related problems (p-value < 0.05). One-fifth of the male participants expressed plans to circumcise future daughters (p-value < 0.001).
Conclusion:
FGM/C remains a prevalent practice in the UAE and has a negative association with the general health of Emirati women. The lack of clear legislation to criminalize this practice is a problem to be addressed. In this context, national-level educational and legal strategies should be a priority.
Description
Citation
Al Awar, S., Al-Jefout, M., Osman, N., Balayah, Z., Al Kindi, N., & Ucenic, T. (2020). Prevalence, knowledge, attitude and practices of female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C) among United Arab Emirates population. BMC women's health, 20(1), 79. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-020-00949-z
Publisher
BMC Women's Health