The Global Issue of Female Genital Mutilation

Female genital mutilation (FGM) refers to all forms of partial or total removal of external female genitalia or other alterations to female genital organs, carried out for cultural or non-therapeutic reasons1. This practice is performed mostly on girls under the age of 5 and, in any case, below the age of 142,3. Various types of FGM are recognized by WHO, with different levels of severity, the most radical of which is commonly called infibulation1. This practice, which has no medical justification and no health benefits1, is widespread mainly in Sub-Saharan Africa, but immigration has brought awareness of it to Western World4,5, in particular in Europe and the United States.

Source: The Journal of Pediatrics - January 9, 2024 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Massimo Pettoello-Mantovani, Donjeta Bali, Ida Giardino, Mehmet Vural, Maria Pastore, Clara Pettoello-Mantovani, Tudor Lucian Pop, Georgios Kostantinidis, Pietro Ferrara Source Type: research