Prevalence, knowledge, attitude and practices of female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C) among United Arab Emirates population
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. Re...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Women's Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12905-020-00949-z |
| _version_ | 1818383594491478016 |
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| author | Shamsa Al Awar Moamar Al-Jefout Nawal Osman Zuhur Balayah Nourah Al Kindi Teodora Ucenic |
| author_facet | Shamsa Al Awar Moamar Al-Jefout Nawal Osman Zuhur Balayah Nourah Al Kindi Teodora Ucenic |
| author_sort | Shamsa Al Awar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T03:08:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-42aa69e4614d4b04b2572d7b3ff8b759 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6874 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T03:08:51Z |
| publishDate | 2020-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Women's Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-42aa69e4614d4b04b2572d7b3ff8b7592022-12-21T23:19:20ZengBMCBMC Women's Health1472-68742020-04-0120111210.1186/s12905-020-00949-zPrevalence, knowledge, attitude and practices of female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C) among United Arab Emirates populationShamsa Al Awar0Moamar Al-Jefout1Nawal Osman2Zuhur Balayah3Nourah Al Kindi4Teodora Ucenic5Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates UniversityDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates UniversityDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates UniversityDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates UniversityAl Ain HospitalNMC Specialty HospitalAbstract 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.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12905-020-00949-zFemale genital mutilation/cuttingFemale circumcisionUAESocial impactAttitudePrevalence |
| spellingShingle | Shamsa Al Awar Moamar Al-Jefout Nawal Osman Zuhur Balayah Nourah Al Kindi Teodora Ucenic Prevalence, knowledge, attitude and practices of female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C) among United Arab Emirates population BMC Women's Health Female genital mutilation/cutting Female circumcision UAE Social impact Attitude Prevalence |
| title | Prevalence, knowledge, attitude and practices of female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C) among United Arab Emirates population |
| title_full | Prevalence, knowledge, attitude and practices of female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C) among United Arab Emirates population |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence, knowledge, attitude and practices of female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C) among United Arab Emirates population |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence, knowledge, attitude and practices of female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C) among United Arab Emirates population |
| title_short | Prevalence, knowledge, attitude and practices of female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C) among United Arab Emirates population |
| title_sort | prevalence knowledge attitude and practices of female genital mutilation and cutting fgm c among united arab emirates population |
| topic | Female genital mutilation/cutting Female circumcision UAE Social impact Attitude Prevalence |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12905-020-00949-z |
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