Female Genital Cutting: Findings from the Demographic and Health Surveys Program

摘要

Although female genital cutting has been the focus of international attention and disapproval in recent years, there has been little scientific research documenting the extent of its practice and support among women in Africa and elsewhere. Until the 1990s, Sudan was the only country with reliable large-scale survey data on the prevalence of genital cutting among women (Toubia, 1995; World Health Organization, 1996b). This report presents some of the first national level information on genital cutting, with the objective of fostering data-based discussion and decisionmaking among policymakers, program implementers, and other interested audiences. This analysis also aims at illuminating the challenges that remain ahead for those groups developing programs addressing genital cutting. Although international conference statements suggest widespread consensus against genital cutting, the survey findings often portray a more complicated reality of high prevalence levels and widespread support for these practices among women. In this report, survey findings on genital cutting will be presented from the Central African Republic (CAR), Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Eritrea, Mali, northern Sudan, and Yemen.' These surveys were conducted between 1989 and 1996 by national organizations under the auspices of the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program.' The DHS Program is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development.