Mitike Getnet, Deressa Wakgari
School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
BMC Public Health. 2009 Jul 27;9:264. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-9-264.
Eastern Ethiopia hosts a substantial number of refugees originated from Somalia. Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a common practice in the area, despite the campaigns to eliminate it.
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 492 respondents sampled from three refugee camps in Somali Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia, to determine the prevalence and associated factors of FGM. Data were collected using pre-tested structured questionnaires.
Although the intention of the parents to circumcise their daughters was high (84%), 42.4% of 288 < or = 12 girls were reported being undergone FGM. The prevalence increased with age, and about 52% and 95% were circumcised at the age of 7-8 and 11-12 years, respectively. Almost all operations were performed by traditional circumcisers (81%) and birth attendants (18%). Clitoral cutting (64%) and narrowing of the vaginal opening through stitching (36%) were the two common forms of FGM reported by the respondents. Participation of the parents in anti-FGM interventions is statistically associated with lower practice and intention of the procedures.
FGM is widely practised among the Somali refugee community in Eastern Ethiopia, and there was a considerable support for the continuation of the practice particularly among women. The findings indicate a reported shift of FGM from its severe form to milder clitoral cutting. More men than women positively viewed anti-FGM interventions, and fewer men than women had the intention to let their daughters undergo FGM, indicating the need to involve men in anti-FGM activities.
埃塞俄比亚东部有大量来自索马里的难民。尽管开展了消除女性生殖器切割（FGM）的运动，但该做法在该地区仍很普遍。
在埃塞俄比亚东部索马里州的三个难民营中抽取492名受访者进行横断面研究，以确定女性生殖器切割的患病率及其相关因素。使用预先测试的结构化问卷收集数据。
尽管父母为女儿进行切割的意愿很高（84%），但在288名年龄小于或等于12岁的女孩中，有42.4%的女孩报告接受过女性生殖器切割。患病率随年龄增长而增加，在7至8岁和11至12岁时接受切割的比例分别约为52%和95%。几乎所有手术都是由传统切割师（81%）和助产士（18%）进行的。受访者报告的女性生殖器切割的两种常见形式是阴蒂切割（64%）和通过缝合使阴道口变窄（36%）。父母参与反女性生殖器切割干预措施在统计学上与较低的切割行为和意愿相关。
女性生殖器切割在埃塞俄比亚东部的索马里难民社区中广泛存在，而且对继续实施该做法有相当大的支持，特别是在妇女中。研究结果表明，据报告女性生殖器切割已从其严重形式转变为较温和的阴蒂切割。对反女性生殖器切割干预措施持积极看法的男性多于女性，而打算让女儿接受女性生殖器切割的男性少于女性，这表明需要让男性参与反女性生殖器切割活动。
