Self-report; responses to question on survey; age of woman

Data Source(s):

Large-scale representative survey (e.g., DHS)

Purpose:

This indicator measures the prevalence of FGM among women in a given area at the time of the survey based on self-reported status. The indicator provides a measure of the effectiveness of programs and initiatives that aim to reduce the practice of FGM. The indicator can be disaggregated by age, allowing for the estimation of FGM prevalence of the 15-19 year old group, since almost all girls who are cut are done so by the age of 15. In most societies that practice FGM, the procedure is per­formed before or around puberty; this proportion is twice as high among adolescents compared to older women. (UNFPA, 2023). Therefore, any reduction in the incidence of the practice will first be apparent among this age group.

If change occurs among the 15-19 year old age group on this variable, evaluators can further analyze this change by education levels, geographic location, religion, and other variables that may help explain the change and may identify the innovators.

Based on prevalence data, the number of women and girls living with FGM can be estimated. These figures are necessary to estimate the need for response and prevention services.

Issues:

The measurement of this indicator relies on self-report, which may or may not be valid. Research has shown that the validity of the response varies by context. Several researchers have reported that FGM is underreported, but many of these studies refer to specific types of FGM rather than having undergone an FGM procedure or not. In some countries, where FGM has been legally banned, women may be likely to avoid reporting that they are cut due to fear of legal ramifications. In areas where there have been campaigns to end the practice, women may be reluctant to report having undergone FGM due to a perceived stigma associated with the practice.

Another important caveat relates to the sample used for the survey. In countries where national surveys, such as the DHS, are limited to mar­ried women (e.g., Egypt), concluding trends in the practice of FGM may be misleading be­cause those who marry as teenagers are more likely to have undergone FGM than those who marry later. Furthermore, in populations where FGM is declining, comparisons of DHS data on FGM across age cohorts will fail to show the changes that were actually taking place.

Evaluating FGM interventions requires a long-term period of observation because the questions are asked about something which may have occurred many years earlier. Since FGM tends to be performed over a wide range of age groups, short-term evaluations may detect a delay in age at mutilation rather than incidences of mutilation averted.

A related indicator is the age at undergoing FGM. Laws prohibiting the practice may drive it underground, and one outcome may be performing FGM at younger ages in life. Evaluation of programs to eradicate FGM should track this variable as a possible unintended consequence.

UNFPA. 2023. FAQ. Female Genital Mutilation. New York, NY.