College of Education and Language, Charmo University, Chamchamal, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.
Arch Womens Ment Health. 2021 Oct;24(5):721-726. doi: 10.1007/s00737-021-01125-4. Epub 2021 Apr 7.
Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is a violation of human rights and is associated with a range of health effects and consequences. It is common in Kurdistan region of Iraq. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of female genital mutilation/cutting on girls and women's mental health in Iraqi Kurdistan. The present case-control study was carried out on 145 girls and women with FGM/C and 145 girls and women without FGM/C in the city of Halabja, in the east of Iraqi Kurdistan, in 2020. Mental health status of the participants was measured using the 28-item version of General Health Questionnaire. Chi-square test was used in order to compare mental health and its dimensions in both groups. The multivariate logistic model with odds ratio was applied to determine the relationship of independent variables with the outcome variable (mental health status). In total, almost 72% (n = 104) of girls and women with FGM/C and 56% (n = 81) of girls and women without FGM/C presented the symptoms of mental health disorders and this difference was statistically significant (P-value = 0.005). Also, the prevalence of depression and somatic disorders among girls and women with FGM/C was higher than among girls and women without FGM/C and this difference was significant (P-value < 0.05). Based on the results of multivariate logistic regression, the variables of having a history of FGM/C (AOR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.29-3.54), and being in an age group of 30-40 years (AOR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.07-3.76) had a significant effect on presenting the symptoms of mental problems. A significant percentage of women and girls with a history of FGM/C had symptoms of mental disorders. FGM/C was a risk factor for a higher chance of presenting symptoms of mental disorders. We need to try to reduce and eradicate FGM/C by educating the public about the health consequences of FGM/C and enacting restrictive laws and monitoring proper implementation of them.
女性外阴残割/切割（FGM/C）是对人权的侵犯，与一系列健康影响和后果有关。它在伊拉克库尔德斯坦地区很常见。因此，本研究旨在调查女性外阴残割/切割对伊拉克库尔德斯坦地区女孩和妇女心理健康的影响。本病例对照研究于 2020 年在伊拉克库尔德斯坦东部城市哈拉卜贾对 145 名有 FGM/C 的女孩和妇女以及 145 名没有 FGM/C 的女孩和妇女进行。使用 28 项一般健康问卷评估参与者的心理健康状况。使用卡方检验比较两组的心理健康及其维度。应用多元逻辑模型与优势比来确定自变量与因变量（心理健康状况）的关系。共有近 72%（n=104）的有 FGM/C 的女孩和妇女和 56%（n=81）的没有 FGM/C 的女孩和妇女出现心理健康障碍症状，差异具有统计学意义（P 值=0.005）。此外，有 FGM/C 的女孩和妇女中抑郁和躯体障碍的患病率高于没有 FGM/C 的女孩和妇女，差异具有统计学意义（P 值<0.05）。基于多元逻辑回归的结果，有 FGM/C 病史的变量（AOR=2.14，95%CI：1.29-3.54）和年龄在 30-40 岁之间的变量（AOR=2.01，95%CI：1.07-3.76）对出现心理健康问题的症状有显著影响。有 FGM/C 病史的妇女和女孩中有相当大比例出现精神障碍症状。FGM/C 是出现精神障碍症状的更高几率的危险因素。我们需要通过教育公众了解 FGM/C 的健康后果并制定限制性法律并监测其适当执行来努力减少和消除 FGM/C。
