Document Type
Brief
Publication Date
2016
Abstract
This policy brief examines the extent of medicalization of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in Egypt, the characteristics of girls who were cut by medical personnel, factors that may have contributed to increased medicalization, and potential interventions that could influence both physicians and the public to completely abandon the practice. The data show that younger cohorts of women, those from higher wealth quintiles, higher levels of education, and living in urban regions are more likely to have been cut by medical personnel. More importantly, the analysis shows that despite medicalization being more common among young women with the above-mentioned characteristics, it is in fact prevalent among all groups of young women and in all regions of Egypt. In order to end the practice of FGM/C, interventions must aim to stop physicians from performing FGM/C, while correspondingly aiming to decrease the demand of the public for FGM/C. Additionally, interventions must address underlying cultural and religious norms that perpetuate the practice of FGM/C. The brief includes specific recommendations to address these factors.
Recommended Citation
Ghattass, Sarah, Nahla G. Abdel-Tawab, and Salma Abou Hussein. 2016. "Ending the medicalization of female genital mutilation/cutting in Egypt," Policy brief. Cairo: Population Council.
DOI
10.31899/rh8.1000
Language
English
Project
A Research Agenda to End Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) in a Generation
Included in
Demography, Population, and Ecology Commons, Family, Life Course, and Society Commons, International Public Health Commons, Maternal and Child Health Commons, Sociology of Culture Commons, Women's Health Commons