Exploring the association between female genital mutilation/cutting and fistula

Authors

Evidence to End FGM/C Programme Consortium

Document Type

Brief

Publication Date

8-1-2018

Abstract

Policymakers and advocates often cite fistula—a hole between the vagina and rectum or bladder that leaves a woman leaking urine or excrement or both—among the many adverse health conditions thought to be related to female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). But high-quality research supporting a connection between the two conditions is limited. Health workers, program managers, and health advocates need a clear understanding of the evidence linking FGM/C and fistula and more accurate information on the dynamics between them. To fill this gap, the Evidence to End FGM/C program examined the association between FGM/C and fistula. This brief highlights the program’s findings on the relationship between the two conditions, focusing on what we know and what we still need to investigate.

Comments

Related resources:

• Exploring the association between FGM/C and fistula: A review of the evidence
• Is there a relationship between female genital mutilation/cutting and fistula? A statistical analysis using cross-sectional data from Demographic and Health Surveys in 10 sub-Saharan Africa countries

See also:

• Exploring the association between female genital mutilation/cutting and early/child marriage
• Exploring the association between female genital mutilation/cutting and HIV

Recommended Citation

"Exploring the association between female genital mutilation/cutting and fistula," Evidence to End FGM/C Programme Consortium Evidence Brief. Washington, DC: Population Reference Bureau, 2018.

DOI

10.31899/sbsr2018.1018

Language

English

Project

Evidence to End FGM/C: Research to Help Girls and Women Thrive