Strong decline in female genital mutilation in Africa

Strong decline in female genital mutilation in Africa https://i0.wp.com/www.eresviral.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Fuerte-descenso-en-la-mutilación-genital-de-niñas-en-África.jpg?fit=243%2C146&ssl=1

Strong decline in female genital mutilation in Africa







The BMJ Global Health magazine today publishes a study that points to a large decline in female genital mutilation (FGM) practices in most African countries. The work, led by Kandala Ngianga-Bakwin, an expert in biostatistics at the University of Northumbria (United Kingdom), also reveals that the reduction rates vary widely by country.



The team has based its findings on an analysis of data from the Demographic Health Survey and the Multiple Indicator Survey from 1990 to 2017 in 29 countries in Africa and in two countries in Western Asia: Iraq and Yemen. The surveys included data on 208,195 girls up to age 14 for a trend analysis over time.



The results showed that the decline in this practice was more pronounced in East Africa, followed by North and West Africa.



Specifically, the prevalence decreased from 71.4% in 1995 to 8% in 2016 in East Africa; from just under 58% in 1990 to just over 14% in 2015 in North Africa; and from 73.6% in 1996 to 25.4% in 2017 in West Africa.



However, the study warns that the practice of FGM in Western Asia - in countries such as Iraq and Yemen - increased by 1% in 1997 and by almost 16% in 2013.







Awareness session on female genital mutilation, led by the African Union Mission in Somalia in the Walalah Biylooley refugee camp (Mogadishu). (Photo: AMISOM)



"While these trends point to the overall success of national and international initiatives to reduce practice over the past three decades, there are still significant concerns," says Ngianga-Bakwin.



"Risk factors still prevail, which increases the likelihood of an inverse trend in some countries," he adds. "These factors include poverty, lack of education, gender culture and the perception that FGM is beneficial for the marriage 'market'."



The authors clarify that this is an observational study and that, as such, "no firm conclusions can be drawn about their findings, in addition to which the survey information is based on personal contributions, often affected by the illiteracy, poverty and cultural sensitivities. "



However, the team stresses that the analysis has included many countries and that solid sampling methods have been used for the surveys. The main conclusion is that more than three million girls in Africa are at risk each year of being subjected to FGM.



In addition, the researchers add, the practice is not limited to Africa and the Middle East, but also occurs in India, Indonesia, Israel, Malaysia, Thailand, some European countries, as well as North America in South America.



"If the goal is to ensure that this practice is eliminated, more efforts and interventions and planning are urgently needed. This means: legislation, defense, education, communication and forging partnerships with religious leaders, community and health workers, "the authors conclude. (Source: SINC)

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