Observations of the types of female genital cutting and possible associated gynecological and delivery complications were undertaken in 21 clinics in rural Burkina Faso and in four rural and four urban clinics in Mali. Women who came to the clinics for services that included a pelvic exam were included in the study, and trained clinic staff observed the presence and type of cut and any associated complications. Ninety-three percent of the women in the Burkina Faso clinics and 94 percent of the women in the Mali clinics had undergone genital cutting. In Burkina Faso, type 1 (clitoridectomy) was the most prevalent (56 percent), whereas in Mali the more severe type 2 cut (excision) was the most prevalent (74 percent); 5 percent of both samples had undergone type 3 cutting (infibulation). Logistic regression analyses show significant positive relationships between the severity of genital cutting and the probability that a woman would have gynecological and obstetric complications.
PIP: This study examines the type of female genital cutting and its possible associated gynecological and delivery complications among females in Burkina Faso and Mali, Africa. Included in the study were women who came to 21 clinics in rural Burkina Faso and in four rural and four urban clinics in Mali seeking medical services that include a pelvic exam. Trained clinical staff observed the presence and type of cut and any associated complications. It was observed that 93% of the women in Burkina Faso and 94% in Mali had undergone genital cutting. The most prevalent type of female genital cutting in Burkina Faso is clitoridectomy, which is 56% among women observed. In Mali, excision was the most prevalent (74%). About 5% of both samples had undergone type 3 cutting, which is the infibulation. Furthermore, there exist a significant relationship between the severity of genital cutting and the possibility of gynecological and obstetric complications.