Female Genital Mutilation in Sierra Leone: Forms, Reliability of Reported Status, and Accuracy of Related Demographic and Health Survey Questions
Objective. To determine forms of female genital mutilation (FGM), assess consistency between self-reported and observed FGM status, and assess the accuracy of Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) FGM questions in Sierra Leone. Methods. This cross-sectional study, conducted between October 2010 and A...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2013-01-01
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| Series: | Obstetrics and Gynecology International |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/680926 |
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| author | Owolabi Bjälkander Donald S. Grant Vanja Berggren Heli Bathija Lars Almroth |
| author_facet | Owolabi Bjälkander Donald S. Grant Vanja Berggren Heli Bathija Lars Almroth |
| author_sort | Owolabi Bjälkander |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective. To determine forms of female genital mutilation (FGM), assess consistency between self-reported and observed FGM status, and assess the accuracy of Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) FGM questions in Sierra Leone. Methods. This cross-sectional study, conducted between October 2010 and April 2012, enrolled 558 females aged 12–47 from eleven antenatal clinics in northeast Sierra Leone. Data on demography, FGM status, and self-reported anatomical descriptions were collected. Genital inspection confirmed the occurrence and extent of cutting. Results. All participants reported FGM status; 4 refused genital inspection. Using the WHO classification of FGM, 31.7% had type Ib; 64.1% type IIb; and 4.2% type IIc. There was a high level of agreement between reported and observed FGM prevalence (81.2% and 81.4%, resp.). There was no correlation between DHS FGM responses and anatomic extent of cutting, as 2.7% reported pricking; 87.1% flesh removal; and 1.1% that genitalia was sewn closed. Conclusion. Types I and II are the main forms of FGM, with labia majora alterations in almost 5% of cases. Self-reports on FGM status could serve as a proxy measurement for FGM prevalence but not for FGM type. The DHS FGM questions are inaccurate for determining cutting extent. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4e8c5b2f243e48bcb15f15da98487397 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1687-9589 1687-9597 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2013-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Obstetrics and Gynecology International |
| spelling | doaj-art-4e8c5b2f243e48bcb15f15da984873972025-08-20T03:36:39ZengWileyObstetrics and Gynecology International1687-95891687-95972013-01-01201310.1155/2013/680926680926Female Genital Mutilation in Sierra Leone: Forms, Reliability of Reported Status, and Accuracy of Related Demographic and Health Survey QuestionsOwolabi Bjälkander0Donald S. Grant1Vanja Berggren2Heli Bathija3Lars Almroth4Division of Global Health, Department of Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, SwedenDepartment of Community Health, College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, Sierra LeoneDivision of Global Health, Department of Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, SwedenGeneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 1290 Versoix, SwitzerlandDivision of Global Health, Department of Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, SwedenObjective. To determine forms of female genital mutilation (FGM), assess consistency between self-reported and observed FGM status, and assess the accuracy of Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) FGM questions in Sierra Leone. Methods. This cross-sectional study, conducted between October 2010 and April 2012, enrolled 558 females aged 12–47 from eleven antenatal clinics in northeast Sierra Leone. Data on demography, FGM status, and self-reported anatomical descriptions were collected. Genital inspection confirmed the occurrence and extent of cutting. Results. All participants reported FGM status; 4 refused genital inspection. Using the WHO classification of FGM, 31.7% had type Ib; 64.1% type IIb; and 4.2% type IIc. There was a high level of agreement between reported and observed FGM prevalence (81.2% and 81.4%, resp.). There was no correlation between DHS FGM responses and anatomic extent of cutting, as 2.7% reported pricking; 87.1% flesh removal; and 1.1% that genitalia was sewn closed. Conclusion. Types I and II are the main forms of FGM, with labia majora alterations in almost 5% of cases. Self-reports on FGM status could serve as a proxy measurement for FGM prevalence but not for FGM type. The DHS FGM questions are inaccurate for determining cutting extent.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/680926 |
| spellingShingle | Owolabi Bjälkander Donald S. Grant Vanja Berggren Heli Bathija Lars Almroth Female Genital Mutilation in Sierra Leone: Forms, Reliability of Reported Status, and Accuracy of Related Demographic and Health Survey Questions Obstetrics and Gynecology International |
| title | Female Genital Mutilation in Sierra Leone: Forms, Reliability of Reported Status, and Accuracy of Related Demographic and Health Survey Questions |
| title_full | Female Genital Mutilation in Sierra Leone: Forms, Reliability of Reported Status, and Accuracy of Related Demographic and Health Survey Questions |
| title_fullStr | Female Genital Mutilation in Sierra Leone: Forms, Reliability of Reported Status, and Accuracy of Related Demographic and Health Survey Questions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Female Genital Mutilation in Sierra Leone: Forms, Reliability of Reported Status, and Accuracy of Related Demographic and Health Survey Questions |
| title_short | Female Genital Mutilation in Sierra Leone: Forms, Reliability of Reported Status, and Accuracy of Related Demographic and Health Survey Questions |
| title_sort | female genital mutilation in sierra leone forms reliability of reported status and accuracy of related demographic and health survey questions |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/680926 |
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