Warning: these figures indicate the number of cases found in the data file. They cannot be interpreted as summary statistics of the population of interest.
Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), or female circumcision, has been practised for hundreds of years by some population groups living in Africa and along the southern edge of the Arabian Peninsula. It involves total or partial removal of the external female genitalia. The operation is performed on young girls, usually before they reach the age of puberty. It is frequently performed, particularly in rural areas, without anaesthesia by traditional midwives and/or circumcision practitioners. The World Health Organization has identified four types of FGM/C: . Clitoridectomy: the removal of all or part of the clitoris . Excision: the removal of all or part of both the clitoris and the labia minora . Infibulation: the removal of all or part of the clitoris, labia minora and labia majora, followed by the stitching together of the edges of the wound so as to form a hood over the urethra and vagina leaving only a small posterior opening to allow the passage of urine and menstrual fluid . Other manipulations of the labia: usually cutting without removal of any flesh. After determining if the respondent has ever heard of FGM/C in questions FG1 and FG2, the module contains questions to determine if the respondent was circumcised and, if so, the type of circumcision and the type of practitioner who performed the operation (FG3 to FG7). Questions related to the type of circumcision are only intended to differentiate the most radical type of circumcision, 'Infibulation', and the least radical, 'Other manipulations of the labia', from other forms of mutilation ('Clitoridectomy' and 'Excision'). Results from previous surveys have indicated that respondents could not provide enough detailed information to make a more precise clarification. --- Circle the code corresponding to the answer given. Skip to FG3 if 'Yes'. Otherwise, continue to the next question.