World Journal of Public Health

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Female Genital Mutilation in Benin: Prevalence and Associated Factors Based on Data from the Demographic and Health Survey, 2011-2012

Received: 29 August 2019    Accepted: 04 October 2019    Published: 23 October 2019
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Abstract

Female genital mutilation has multiple adverse impacts on victims’ physical and psychosocial well-being. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and potential factors associated with female genital mutilation in Benin. A logistic regression was performed on the 2011 Benin Demographic and Health Survey dataset, using Stata 12. The dependent variable was based on participants’ declaration about the “Cut respondent’ question and was dichotomous (Yes/No). Independent variables were sociodemographic characteristics. A total of 11,008 women were selected, with 7.14% (CI 95% = [5.91, 8.60]) reported to be victims of female genital mutilation. The majority of the women were between 25 and 34 years old (34.5%), uneducated (54.6%), and married (51.3%). Women aged 35 to 49 were more likely to be victims of FGM than women aged 15 to 18 (OR = 5.43; CI 95% [3.77-7.82]). The risk of FGM was higher in married women (OR = 7.76) than those who had never been in a union, with the same trend observed for Muslim women (OR = 33.39) compared to followers of voodoo/traditional religion. Female genital mutilation is still practiced in Benin, especially in the north. This study reveals that factors such as marital status, religion, area of residence, level of education, ethnicity, and département of residence are associated with this practice. Therefore, they should be taken into account for effective interventions to eliminate it at national level.

DOI 10.11648/j.wjph.20190404.11
Published in World Journal of Public Health (Volume 4, Issue 4, December 2019)
Page(s) 74-80
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Prevalence, Associated Factors, Female Genital Mutilation, Demographic Health Survey, Benin

References
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Author Information
  • Regional Institute of Public Health, University of Abomey-Calavi, Ouidah, Benin

  • Regional Institute of Public Health, University of Abomey-Calavi, Ouidah, Benin

  • Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin

  • Regional Institute of Public Health, University of Abomey-Calavi, Ouidah, Benin

  • Regional Institute of Public Health, University of Abomey-Calavi, Ouidah, Benin

  • Regional Institute of Public Health, University of Abomey-Calavi, Ouidah, Benin

  • Regional Institute of Public Health, University of Abomey-Calavi, Ouidah, Benin

  • Regional Institute of Public Health, University of Abomey-Calavi, Ouidah, Benin

Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Alphonse Kpozehouen, Yolaine Glele Ahanhanzo, Elvyre Klikpo, Colette Azandjame, Alphonse Chabi, et al. (2019). Female Genital Mutilation in Benin: Prevalence and Associated Factors Based on Data from the Demographic and Health Survey, 2011-2012. World Journal of Public Health, 4(4), 74-80. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjph.20190404.11

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    ACS Style

    Alphonse Kpozehouen; Yolaine Glele Ahanhanzo; Elvyre Klikpo; Colette Azandjame; Alphonse Chabi, et al. Female Genital Mutilation in Benin: Prevalence and Associated Factors Based on Data from the Demographic and Health Survey, 2011-2012. World J. Public Health 2019, 4(4), 74-80. doi: 10.11648/j.wjph.20190404.11

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    AMA Style

    Alphonse Kpozehouen, Yolaine Glele Ahanhanzo, Elvyre Klikpo, Colette Azandjame, Alphonse Chabi, et al. Female Genital Mutilation in Benin: Prevalence and Associated Factors Based on Data from the Demographic and Health Survey, 2011-2012. World J Public Health. 2019;4(4):74-80. doi: 10.11648/j.wjph.20190404.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.wjph.20190404.11,
      author = {Alphonse Kpozehouen and Yolaine Glele Ahanhanzo and Elvyre Klikpo and Colette Azandjame and Alphonse Chabi and Charles Sossa Jerome and Moussiliou Noel Paraiso and Edgard-Marius Ouendo},
      title = {Female Genital Mutilation in Benin: Prevalence and Associated Factors Based on Data from the Demographic and Health Survey, 2011-2012},
      journal = {World Journal of Public Health},
      volume = {4},
      number = {4},
      pages = {74-80},
      doi = {10.11648/j.wjph.20190404.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjph.20190404.11},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.wjph.20190404.11},
      abstract = {Female genital mutilation has multiple adverse impacts on victims’ physical and psychosocial well-being. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and potential factors associated with female genital mutilation in Benin. A logistic regression was performed on the 2011 Benin Demographic and Health Survey dataset, using Stata 12. The dependent variable was based on participants’ declaration about the “Cut respondent’ question and was dichotomous (Yes/No). Independent variables were sociodemographic characteristics. A total of 11,008 women were selected, with 7.14% (CI 95% = [5.91, 8.60]) reported to be victims of female genital mutilation. The majority of the women were between 25 and 34 years old (34.5%), uneducated (54.6%), and married (51.3%). Women aged 35 to 49 were more likely to be victims of FGM than women aged 15 to 18 (OR = 5.43; CI 95% [3.77-7.82]). The risk of FGM was higher in married women (OR = 7.76) than those who had never been in a union, with the same trend observed for Muslim women (OR = 33.39) compared to followers of voodoo/traditional religion. Female genital mutilation is still practiced in Benin, especially in the north. This study reveals that factors such as marital status, religion, area of residence, level of education, ethnicity, and département of residence are associated with this practice. Therefore, they should be taken into account for effective interventions to eliminate it at national level.},
     year = {2019}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Female Genital Mutilation in Benin: Prevalence and Associated Factors Based on Data from the Demographic and Health Survey, 2011-2012
    AU  - Alphonse Kpozehouen
    AU  - Yolaine Glele Ahanhanzo
    AU  - Elvyre Klikpo
    AU  - Colette Azandjame
    AU  - Alphonse Chabi
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    AU  - Moussiliou Noel Paraiso
    AU  - Edgard-Marius Ouendo
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    JF  - World Journal of Public Health
    JO  - World Journal of Public Health
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    EP  - 80
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2637-6059
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjph.20190404.11
    AB  - Female genital mutilation has multiple adverse impacts on victims’ physical and psychosocial well-being. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and potential factors associated with female genital mutilation in Benin. A logistic regression was performed on the 2011 Benin Demographic and Health Survey dataset, using Stata 12. The dependent variable was based on participants’ declaration about the “Cut respondent’ question and was dichotomous (Yes/No). Independent variables were sociodemographic characteristics. A total of 11,008 women were selected, with 7.14% (CI 95% = [5.91, 8.60]) reported to be victims of female genital mutilation. The majority of the women were between 25 and 34 years old (34.5%), uneducated (54.6%), and married (51.3%). Women aged 35 to 49 were more likely to be victims of FGM than women aged 15 to 18 (OR = 5.43; CI 95% [3.77-7.82]). The risk of FGM was higher in married women (OR = 7.76) than those who had never been in a union, with the same trend observed for Muslim women (OR = 33.39) compared to followers of voodoo/traditional religion. Female genital mutilation is still practiced in Benin, especially in the north. This study reveals that factors such as marital status, religion, area of residence, level of education, ethnicity, and département of residence are associated with this practice. Therefore, they should be taken into account for effective interventions to eliminate it at national level.
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