Female genital mutilation/cutting experiences and attitudes among women from countries with high prevalence of FGM/C living in the United States: findings from the women’s health needs study

Background Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is a health and human rights concern for women and girls globally, and illegal to perform in the United States (US). FGM/C is associated with negative immediate and long-term health consequences such as pain, infections, and obstetric complications. Recent US estimates of the numbers of women and girls impacted by FGM/C are unknown but increasing immigration to the US from countries where FGM/C is prevalent suggests an increased population. We describe the health characteristics, experiences, and attitudes about FGM/C among Women's Health Needs Study (WHNS) participants. Methods The WHNS cross-sectional survey interview collected information from 1,132 women ages 18 to 49 years living in the US who were born, or whose mothers were born, in a country where FGM/C is a prevalent practice. During November 2020 through June 2021, study participants were identified in four US metropolitan areas using a hybrid venue-based and respondent-driven sampling approach. We analyzed WHNS data to describe respondents’ characteristics, FGM/C experiences (FGM/C status, type of FGM/C, age at FGM/C, communication with health care providers about FGM/C) and attitudes about continuance of FGM/C. Analyses were conducted using SAS version 9.4. Results Of the 1,132 women interviewed, over half (55%) had experienced FGM/C. Of those, 29% said their vagina had been sewn closed (infibulated), almost two-thirds (64%) reported that FGM/C occurred before age 10, and fewer than one third of women with FGM/C (31%) had ever discussed it with a health care provider. Most women interviewed thought FGM/C should be stopped (92%). Conclusions Our results provide insights into FGM/C-related experiences and attitudes among 1,132 US women from FGM/C-practicing countries, among whom just over half reported having experienced FGM/C. Social and health care services that provide care to potentially affected US women can use this knowledge about women’s FGM/C experiences and attitudes to heighten awareness, improve clinical care, and promote interventions and strategies for prevention.