Circleing the female genitals is the main cause of death for girls in which it is practiced – a novel study

Circulation or cutting of the genital organs (FGM/C) is a deeply rooted cultural practice that affects 200 million women and girls. His experienced In at least 25 African countries, as well as in the Middle East and Asia and among the population of immigrants around the world.

This is harmful traditional practice that includes removal or damage to female genital tissue. This is often “justified” by cultural beliefs on controlling female sexuality and marriages. FGM/C causes immediate and throughout life physical and psychological damage for girls and women, including severe pain, complications during childbirth, infections and injury.

We have accumulated our knowledge in the field of economics and sexual violence in order to examine excessive mortality (death that can be avoided) due to fgm/c. Our new research Now it reveals the destructive reality: FGM/C is one of the main causes of the death of girls and youthful women in countries where it is practiced. FGM/C can cause death from severe bleeding, infection, shock or challenging delivery.

Our study estimates that this causes about 44,000 deaths a year in 15 countries. It is equivalent to a youthful woman or a girl every 12 minutes.

This makes it a more significant cause of death in the surveyed countries than any other, excluding infection, malaria and respiratory infections or tuberculosis. In other words, this is a greater cause of death than HIV/AIDS, Odra, meningitis and many other known health threats to youthful women and girls in these countries.

Earlier tests He showed that FGM/C leads to severe pain, bleeding and infection. But tracking deaths directly caused by practice was almost impossible. This is partly due to the fact that FGM/C is illegal in many countries where it occurs and usually takes place in non -clinical conditions without medical supervision.

Where the crisis is the heaviest

Practice is particularly common in several African nations. In Guinea, our data show that 97%of women and girls underwent fgm/c, while in a diminutive number is 83%, and in Sierra Leone, 90%. High distribution indicators in Egypt, with 87% of women and girls, reminds that FGM/C is not confined to sub -Saharan Africa.

In our study, we analyzed data from 15 African countries, for which comprehensive information about FGM/C “is available. This means that the data is comprehensive, reliable and widely accepted for research, policy and spokesman’s efforts to combat FGM/C.

We have developed a novel approach to aid overcome previous data gaps. We adapted data on the percentage of girls subjected to FGM/C of all ages with specific agency indicators in 15 countries in 1990–2020. The age at which FGM occurs varies significantly depending on the country. In Nigeria, 93% of procedures are performed in girls under the age of five. In Sierra Leone, however, most girls undergo a procedure between 10 and 14 years elderly.

Because health conditions differ depending on the place and time, and differ in the same place from one to a year, we considered these differences. It helped us find out if more girls have died over the centuries, when FGM/C usually happens in every country.

For example, in chad 11.2% of girls undergo fgm/c aged 0-4, 57.2% at 5-9 and 30% at 10-14. We saw how the mortality rates between these age groups changed compared to countries with different FGM designs.

This careful statistical approach helped us identify excessive deaths related to practice, while taking into account other factors that can affect children’s mortality.

Striking arrangements

Our analysis showed that when the percentage of girls subjected to FGM in a specific age group increases by 50 percentage points, their mortality rate increases by 0.1 percentage point. Although this may seem diminutive, used in the population of affected countries, this translates into tens of thousands of deaths that can be prevented annually.

The scale is stunning: while armed conflicts in Africa caused about 48,000 combat deaths per year in 1995–2015, our studies suggest that FGM/C leads to about 44,000 deaths a year. This puts FGM among the most sedate challenges related to public health, which these nations are facing.

Apart from the numbers

These statistics represent a miniature life. Most FGM/C procedures are performed without anesthesia, appropriate medical supervision or sterile equipment. The resulting complications may include severe bleeding, infection and shock. Even if it is not deadly immediately, practice can lead to long -term health problems and increased risk during delivery.

Impact goes beyond physical health. Survivors often encounter mental trauma and social challenges. In many FGM/C communities, he is deeply embedded in cultural practices and associated with marriage perspectives, which makes it challenging for families to resist pressure to continue tradition.

Urgent crisis

FGM/C is not only a violation of human rights – it is a crisis of public health that requires urgent attention. While progress has been made in some areasWith Some communities give up practiceOur research suggests that current efforts to combat FGM/C must be dramatically scaled.

. Covid-19 Pandemia has potentially deteriorated the situationdue to the broader impact of pandemic on societies, economies and healthcare systems. The UN estimates that Pandemic could lead to 2 million additional cases of fgm/c, which could be prevented. Based on our mortality estimates, this can cause about 4,000 additional deaths in 15 surveyed countries.

Road forward

The end of FGM/C requires a multi -faceted approach. Legal reforms are key – the practice remains legal in five out of 28 countries where it is most often practiced. However, the rights themselves are not enough. Community involvement, education and support for bottom -up organizations are necessary to change deeply rooted cultural beliefs and practices.

Previous studies have shown that information campaigns and initiatives conducted by community can be effective. For example, the research has documented a reduction in FGM/C rates Increased scope of social media in Egypt and employ educational films Showing different views on fgm/c.

Most importantly, each solution must include communities in which fgm/c are practiced. Our research emphasizes that it is not just about changing tradition – it is about saving life. Every year, delay means tens of thousands of more deaths.

Our findings suggest that the end of FGM/C should be considered urgent as a priority as combating the main infectious diseases. The lives of millions of girls and youthful women depend on it.