Genital Cutting Prevalence In Ethiopia Decreasing, Survey Finds

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Sexual Health / STDs
Article Date: 15 Sep 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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The prevalence of female genital cutting -- also referred to as female genital mutilation and female circumcision -- has decreased in Ethiopia from 61% of girls and women in 1997 to 46% in 2007, according to a 2007 survey by the Ethiopian National Committee on Traditional Practices, or EGLDAM, IRIN News reports. According to IRIN News, each year about two million girls worldwide are at risk of undergoing genital cutting, a traditional practice which involves partial or complete removal of the clitoris and labia.

Abate Gudunfa, head of EGLDAM, said that knowledge about the harm that the procedure can cause is increasing and that more recently born children are "safer." Gudunfa said, "Prevalence, especially among newly born children, is decreasing -- meaning that more families have sufficient awareness and do not support this practice anymore."

The survey also found that almost all ethnic groups showed a decline in the prevalence of genital cutting. Prevalence of the practice declined by at least 20% among 29 ethnic groups. The ethnic groups "should be considered real success areas and given due attention as possible learning sites," the survey said. The survey also noted that some regions had recorded minimal change in genital cutting prevalence, including the Afar and Somali regions, and that six ethnic groups showed a 10% or less decrease in prevalence. These groups "should be considered as groups of probable major resistance to change," the survey said (IRIN/Plus News, 9/11).

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