Ending the medicalization of female genital mutilation/cutting in Egypt

Abstract

IntroductIon Despite the presence of a law banning female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), the practice continues to be widespread in Egypt. According to 2014, Egypt Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS), the prevalence of FGM/C is 93% among ever-married women aged 15-49 (MOHP, El-Zantay and Associates, and ICF International, 2015). Type I (i.e. partial or total removal of the clitoris and/or the prepuce) and type II (i.e. partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora) are the most common types of FGM/C in Egypt (WHO, 2008; Tag-Eldin et al., 2008). Reasons underlying the practice of FGM/C include believing it is a religious requirement; it protects a girl's chastity/ prevents against adultery or husbands prefer women who are circumcised (MOHP, El-Zanaty and Associates and, ICF International, 2015; Tag-Eldin et al., 2008). According to the 2014 Survey of Young People in Egypt (SYPE) 1 , the prevalence of FGM/C tends to be declining among younger generations of women (73.9% amongst females age 13-17 compared to 85.7% amongst those age 30-35). However, more parents are relying on medical personnel to circumcise their daughters (Ismail, Abdel-Tawab & Sheira, 2015). It is noteworthy that rates of FGM/C medicalization (i.e. performance of the practice by medical personnel) in Egypt are more extensive than in any other country where FGM/C is practiced (UNICEF, 2013). Medicalization of a harmful practice such as FGM/C institutionalizes and normalizes it, making the process of complete abandonment more difficult (Askew et al., 2016). A global strategy to stop health-care providers from performing FGM/C was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and in collaboration with multiple governments, health-care professional bodies, UN agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) after recognizing the magnitude of the problem (WHO, 2010). It is a call to action by which supportive legal and educational frameworks are created and implemented, monitoring and accountability channels are strengthened and capacities of healthcare providers are improved. 1 SYPE was conducted by the Population Council in collaboration with the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS). It is a nationally representative survey conducted with more than 10,000 young people in 2009 and 2014. It provides a comprehensive profile of Egyptian adolescents and youth before and after the 2011 and 2013 political events.

Debating medicalization of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C): learning from (policy) experiences across countries

“…Moreover, a penalty of imprisonment between one and 3 years was imposed for any individual who escorted the victims of such crimes to the perpetrators [39]. However, a number of recent studies reveal that despite these policies and legal restrictions the medicalization of FGM/C continues in Egypt [35, 40, 41].…”

“…However, a number of recent studies reveal that despite these policies and legal restrictions the medicalization of FGM/C continues in Egypt [35, 40, 41].…”

Understanding female genital mutilation/cutting abandonment in Egypt

“…These factors may be external, such as exposure to mass media, targeted community activities, and laws and policies. In Egypt, for example, there is a national law against the practice that was introduced in 2008 with higher penalties instituted in 2016 (5 to 7-year prison sentence to those who perform the practice) (Ghattass et al, 2017). There is less literature however, investigating internal factors that can lead to abandonment.…”