Female genital mutilation/cutting in Sierra Leone: are educated women intending to circumcise their daughters?

Abstract

Background Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) has been recognized as a gross violation of human rights of girls and women. This is well established in numerous international legal instruments. It forms part of the initiation ceremony that confers womanhood in Sierra Leone. Girls and women who are subjected to this practice are considered to be ready for marriage by their parents and communities and are rewarded with celebrations, gifts, and public recognition. Following this, we examined the relationship between education and women’s FGM/C intention for their daughters in Sierra Leone. Methods We used cross-sectional data from the women’s file of the 2013 Sierra Leone Demographic and Health Survey (SLDHS) to explore the influence of education on FGM/C intention among women in the reproductive age (15–49). A sample of 6543 women were included in the study. Our analysis involved descriptive computation of education and FGM/C intention. This was followed by a two-level multilevel analysis. Fixed effect results were reported as Odds Ratios and Adjusted Odds Ratios with their respective credible intervals (CrIs) whilst results of the random effects were presented as variance partition coefficients and median odds ratios. Results Our findings showed that women who had no formal education were more likely to intend to circumcise their daughters [aOR = 4.3, CrI = 2.4–8.0]. Among the covariates, women aged 20–24 [aOR = 2.3, CrI = 1.5–3.4] were more likely to intend to circumcise their daughters compared to women between 45 and 49 years old. Poorest women were more likely to report intention of circumcising their daughters in the future compared with the richest [aOR = 2.1, CrI = 1.3–3.2]. We noted that, 63.3% of FGM/C intention in Sierra Leone is attributable to contextual factors. Conclusion FGM/C intention is more common among women with no education, younger women as well as women in the lowest wealth category. We recommend segmented female-child educational and pro-poor policies that target uneducated women in Sierra Leone. The study further suggests that interventions to end FGM/C need to focus on broader contextual and social norms in Sierra Leone.

What are the Complications Associated with Female Genital Mutilation Among Postnatal Women in Chuko Primary Hospital, Sidama Regional State, Ethiopia?

“…This result was found to be in line with the prevalence among Postnatal women in the Hadiya zone (82.2%), the pooled prevalence in Ethiopia (87.5%), and Hossana (92.2%) (15)(16)(17). On the other hand, the study ndings in Sierra-Leone 2013(63%), Kersa district of Ethiopia ((38.5%) were less than the ndings of this study (18,19). The possible explanation for this difference might be due to the difference in Socio-demographic characteristics of study participants and sample size.…”

Early age at first childbirth and skilled birth attendance during delivery among young women in sub-Saharan Africa

“…This supports previous research output in Nepal [ 44 ], Pakistan [ 35 ], Namibia [ 45 ], Nigeria [ 46 ], Gambia [ 47 ], and Ethiopia [ 48 – 50 ]. Ameyaw et al [ 51 ] assert that education increases young women’s exposure to information, knowledge, occupation with high income and access to mass media, which subsequently informs their healthcare decisions and utilization of maternal health services. Young women with secondary/higher education levels may be more empowered and informed about the importance of SBA and be more willing to utilize skilled birth delivery services.…”

Women’s Empowerment as It Relates to Attitudes Towards and Practice of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting of Daughters: An Ecological Analysis of Demographic and Health Surveys From 12 African Countries

“…These results suggest that women’s decision power might exert an important role—to the point of prevailing over the husband’s/partner’s decision—in perpetuating the practice in societies in which FGM/C is still embedded in local tradition and culture and is widely supported at the community level. For instance, there is evidence that in Sierra Leone, contextual factors are responsible for more than half of the variability in the prevalence of FGM/C ( Ameyaw et al, 2020 ). In traditional societies, the practice of FGM/C confers status on a woman because it promotes her the social identity and moral status within the community (e.g., parents fear that non-circumcised daughters will have more difficult to find a good marriage).…”