A state-of-the-art synthesis on female genital mutilation/cutting: What do we know now?
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Efforts to end female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) are a rising priority on many national and global agendas. Thus it is imperative to have a clear understanding of the scale and scope of the practice, and where it occurs, as well as the dynamics of change and the broader context surrounding it. This state-of-the-art synthesis offers a snapshot of the most recent data available as of July 2016 and the most relevant contextual information on key FGM/C issues in clear, nontechnical language that can help inform policymakers, donors, program planners, and other key stakeholders. The data point to “hot spot” geographic areas; identify populations that may be more amenable to change; and highlight drivers, rationales, and patterns of influence related to the practice that should be acknowledged and addressed within policy and programmatic strategies. This synthesis also highlights how FGM/C data collection, analysis, and interpretation could be improved to fill some key gaps in our understanding and further guide the way forward.
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In analyses of FGM/C prevalence data from 29 countries, 15 countries showed little or no change and 14 showed dropping FGM/C rates.
“Analyses of data on FGM/C prevalence from 29 countries (27 African countries plus Yemen and Iraq) showed that in 15 of the 29 countries, there has been little or no change, while 14 nations showed that FGM/C rates are dropping [ 4 ].”
From Medicalized Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: Contentious Practices and Persistent Debates (2018) · cites this paper as [4]
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Medicalized Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: Contentious Practices and Persistent Debates
Kimani, S., & Shell-Duncan, B. (2018) · Current Sexual Health Reports · doi:10.1007/s11930-018-0140-y · Cited by 65 · see citing works
“While medicalized FGM/C is found in greatest concentration in three countries (Egypt, Sudan, and Nigeria), health professionals in countries around the world have been approached with requests to cut girls and women [49–53]. These include countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East where FGM/C has long been practic…”
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Shifts in FGM/C practice in Sudan: communities’ perspectives and drivers
Bedri, N., Sherfi, H., Rudwan, G., Elhadi, S., Kabiru, C., & Amin, W. (2019) · BMC Women's Health · doi:10.1186/s12905-019-0863-6 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
- Authors
- Shell-Duncan, B., Naik, R., & Feldman-Jacobs, C.
- Affiliations
- Population Council (IN)
- Publisher
- Population Council
- Published
- 2016
- OpenAlex
- W2463836181
- Cited by
- 80
- References
- 21
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1
- Type
- report
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Funders
- University of Washington
- Government of the United Kingdom
- University of California, San Diego
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Issues
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Genital Health and Disease
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Ureteral procedures and complications
- Keywords
- female genital mutilation, prevalence, social norms, data collection and analysis
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