Estimating the number of foreign women with female genital mutilation/cutting in Italy.

BACKGROUND

Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), is an emerging topic in Europe as a consequence of the increasing proportion of women migrating from Africa. The prevalence of FGM/C is however unknown in Europe, as there are no country-representative surveys on this topic. The aim of this study is to provide an estimate for Italy for the year 2010.

METHODS

This study relies on the results of the First Survey on Women at Risk of FGM/C held in Italy in 2010. This cross-sectional survey involved 1000 migrants from the main FGM/C practicing countries aged 15-49 living in the Italian region of Lombardy. The estimate presented is based on a method combining direct estimates for the communities involved in the survey and indirect estimates for other communities. Indirect estimations were obtained using a refinement of the most general extrapolation-of-country-prevalence-data method.

RESULTS

It is estimated that some 57 000 foreign girls and women aged 15-49 with FGM/C were living in Italy in 2010. The Nigerian community is the most affected, with around 20 000 women with FGM/C (35.5% of the total number women affected in Italy), followed by the Egyptian community (around 18 600 women with FGM/C; 32.5%). Another 15% of the women affected are from the Horn of Africa, notably from Ethiopia (3200 women; 5.5%), Eritrea (2800 women; 4.9%) and Somalia (2300 women; 4%).

CONCLUSIONS

This study offers an additional methodological advancement by proposing a combination of direct and indirect estimation of FGM/C. The results are crucial information to plan interventions and targeted policies.