Female genital cutting (FGC) also called female circumcision or female genital mutilation involves
cutting or removing the external female genitalia for non-therapeutic reasons. FGC is a common
practice mainly in a band of African countries north of the equator, from Mauritania and
Guinea in the west to Somalia and Egypt in the east. It is most often carried out by traditional
practitioners on girls that range in age from a few days old to 20 years. FGC can cause pain,
severe bleeding, reproductive health complications, infections, and even death.
FGC CD
The MEASURE DHS project has collected data on female genital cutting in more than 25 countries.
In some countries, two surveys with FGC data have been conducted. Data on FGC for 17 African
countries and Yemen is available
online and on CD. The CD also contains the survey module used in DHS questionnaires to collect FGC data and several DHS publications on FGC.
Modules and Indicators
The DHS
Female Genital Cutting Module has been
implemented in DHS surveys across Africa,
providing a rich source of comparable data
on the following:
Prevalence of FGC among women age 15-49
and among their daughters who have been cut
Characteristics of FGC among women
and daughters
Attitudes toward the practice and its
continuation
Men are also asked about
their attitudes toward the practice of FGC
and its continuation. (in selected countries)
Indicators reported include:
Knowledge of female genital cutting
Prevalence of female genital cutting
Percentage of women with at least one living daughter
