Obstetric and neonatal outcomes for women with reversed and non-reversed type III female genital mutilation

Abstract

Objective: To record and compare obstetric and neonatal complication rates in women with reversed and non-reversed type III female genital mutilation (FGM).

Methods: A retrospective observational study comparing cesarean delivery rates and neonatal outcomes of primiparous and multiparous women who had or had not undergone reversal of FGM III.

Results: Of the 250 women, 230 (92%) had an FGM reversal. Of these, 50 (21.7%) were primiparous (cesarean delivery rate 17/50; 34%) and 180 (78.3%) were multiparous (cesarean delivery rate 28/180; 15.6%). Of the 20 women who had not had an FGM reversal, 7 (35%) were primiparous (cesarean delivery rate 5/7; 71.4%) and 13 (65%) were multiparous (cesarean delivery rate 7/13; 53.8%). The cesarean delivery rates for primiparae and multiparae were 32.9% and 25%, respectively. Multiparous women with FGM III reversal had a lower possibility of cesarean delivery compared with the hospital multiparous population (P=0.003) and multiparae who had not undergone FGM III reversal (P=0.007). There was no significant association between Apgar scores or blood loss at vaginal delivery and FGM reversal.

Conclusion: Reversal of FGM III significantly reduced the increased risk of cesarean delivery seen with multiparae who have FGM III.