Effects of female genital mutilation on childbirth in Africa
Policy brief
Background
Reliable evidence regarding the effect of female genital mutilation on obstetric outcome is scarce. Furthermore, most previous studies on this issue were small and not based on the most solid research methods, particularly with regard to perinatal outcomes. WHO therefore coordinated a study1 in hospitals in 2001–2003 of the ways in which different types of female genital mutilation affect birth outcomes.