Prevalence of female genital mutilation among African women resident in the Swedish county of Östergötland

Abstract

The influx of immigrants to Sweden and the other Scandinavian countries from cultures where FGM is practiced, requires that physicians and other health professionals familiarize themselves with the practice and the cultural beliefs underlying it. Sensitivity to the needs of these women as well as attention to the potential physical hazards posed by the practice are important factors in care.

Female genital mutilation among antenatal care and contraceptive advice attendees in Sweden

“…In a previous study from Sweden 63 African women were examined by genital inspection. The proportion of clitoridectomies was approximately the same (8%) but the number of infibulated women in our study was remarkably lower (25% compared to 44%) (24). This difference might be explained by that many of the women in our study had gone through delivery, and therefore no longer were infibulated.…”

The lower prevalence of female genital mutilation in the Netherlands: a nationwide study in Dutch midwifery practices

“…This corresponds to the 44% for infibulation found in a Swedish study (Kangoum et al 2004). In Melbourne, 78% of the women identified as having had FGM were found to have undergone infibulation (Knight et al 1999).…”

“…Being from the same background they were able to survey women from risk countries since they were trusted and they were able to conduct examinations of genitalia in a smaller group. Prevalence was 68% in the survey group (n = 254) and 62% in the examination group (n = 39) (Kangoum et al 2004).…”

Swedish Health Care Providers’ Experience and Knowledge of Female Genital Cutting

“…A recent study of the prevalence of FGC among African women resident in the Swedish county ofÖstergötland shows that 68% (173/254) were genitally cut, of whom 44% were infibulated (Kangoum et al, 2004). A great majority of Somali immigrants in Swedish exile abruptly abandon the tradition of circumcision (Johnsdotter, 2002), a phenomenon the social scientist Gerry Mackie calls a convention shift; that is, a critical mass of people realize the advantage of giving up a practice and do so quickly.…”