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Estimates of first-generation women and girls with female genital mutilation in the European Union, Norway and Switzerland
- Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- Background: Female genital mutilation (FGM) is the practice of partial or total removal of female genitalia for non-medical reasons. The procedure has no known health benefits but can cause serious immediate and long-term obstetric, gynaecological and sexual health problems. Health workers in Europe are often unaware of the consequences of FGM and lack the knowledge to treat women adequately. Objective: Our goal was to estimate the number of first-generation girls and women in the European Union, Norway and Switzerland who have undergone FGM. Before migration from FGM-practicing countries began, FGM was an unknown phenomenon in Europe. Methods: Secondary analysis of data from the 2011 EU census and extrapolation from age-specific FGM prevalence rates in the immigrantsâ home countries to these data were used to provide our estimates. Estimates based on census and other demographic data were compared to our results for Belgium. Results: In 2011 over half a million first-generation women and girls in the EU, Norway and Switzerland had undergone FGM before immigration. One in two was living in the UK or France, one in two was born in East-Africa. Conclusions: For the first time, scientific evidence gives a reliable estimate of the number of first-generation women and girls in Europe coming from countries where FGM is practiced. The use of census data proves reliable for policy makers to guide their actions, e.g., regarding training needs for health workers who might be confronted with women who have undergone FGM, or the need for reconstructive surgery
- Subjects :
- Adult
medicine.medical_specialty
Adolescent
media_common.quotation_subject
female genital cutting
Immigration
Population
prevalence
Reproductive medicine
Developing country
Emigrants and Immigrants
Developing Countrie
03 medical and health sciences
Young Adult
0302 clinical medicine
Age Distribution
Circumcision
migrant health
Medicine
media_common.cataloged_instance
Humans
Pharmacology (medical)
030212 general & internal medicine
European Union
European union
education
Developing Countries
Female genital mutilation
media_common
Reproductive health
education.field_of_study
030219 obstetrics & reproductive medicine
business.industry
Norway
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Emigrants and Immigrant
Census
Middle Aged
Europe
Reproductive Medicine
Circumcision, Female
Africa
Women's Health
Female
business
Developed country
Switzerland
Demography
Human
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....fb879e880a060143c917018365e92d6c