Correlates and Prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation in Mali

Langutani Nesco LN Miyambu, University of the Witwatersrand
Keselwetse Mirriam Ngake, Lecture

Introduction WHO (2018), female genital mutilation is total removal of female external genitalia for non-medical reasons. Woman who undergo FGM experience pain, reduction of sexual satisfaction and desire for sexual intercourse. FGM is practiced in 30 countries and 200 million of females undergo FGM Methods The data used for this paper was sourced from the 2012-2013 Mali DHS published in 2015. Total of 10,105 households were sampled. The dependent variable is FGM. The data was analysed using SPSS Results The study examined the correlates and prevalence of FGM in Mali, women aged 15-49 years. Out of 10424 sampled participants, 5552 had undergone FGM. Age and type of place of residence are not associated with practice of female genital mutilation. Conclusion FGM has no health benefit to the well- being of women. UNFPA, Mali government and implicated bodies should formulate policy that protect females and develop advocacy programme to empower women.