Prevalence and drivers of female genital mutilation/cutting in three coastal governorates in Yemen

BMC Public Health

Table 2 Prevalence, knowledge, and attitudes of respondents on female genital mutilation

	Total		Women		Men
Variable	n	%	n	%	n	%
Women have undergone FGM/C^# (N = 643)
Yes			572	89.0
No			71	11.0
At least one daughter in household has undergone FGM/C (N = 771)
Yes	652	84.6	446	86.6	206	80.5
No	119	15.4	69	13.4	50	19.5
Youngest daughter has undergone FGM/C (N = 771)
Yes	615	79.8	425	82.5	190	74.2
No	156	20.2	90	17.5	66	25.8
Person who performed FGM/C on youngest daughter (N = 607)
Traditional practitioner	282	46.5	200	47.2	82	44.8
Health workers	325	53.5	224	52.8	101	55.2
Respondent’s knowledge of FGM/C (N = 978)
Good	361	36.9	185	29.2	176	51.2
Poor	617	63.1	449	70.8	168	48.8
Respondent’s opinions on continuing to practice FGM/C (N = 987)
Continue	675	68.4	441	68.5	234	68.2
Discontinue	312	31.6	203	31.5	109	31.8
Reasons for continuation
Cleanliness for girls	442	65.7	289	65.8	153	65.4
Social desire	121	18.0	50	11.4	71	30.3
Ensure girls’ virginity	209	31.1	117	26.6	92	39.3
For Religious requirement	304	45.2	202	46.0	102	43.6
Improved marriage prospects	34	5.1	7	1.6	27	11.5
Reasons for discontinuation (N = 295)
Bad habit	143	48.5	89	47.3	54	50.5
Against religion	78	26.4	50	26.6	28	26.2
Cause medical complication	98	33.2	49	26.2	49	45.8
Painful experience	61	20.7	40	21.3	21	19.6
Violence against women	99	33.6	57	30.3	42	39.3

N, sample size; n, number; %, percentage; Women have undergone FGM/C#, mother, or eldest daughter

ISSN: 1471-2458