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Review
. 2025 Aug 8;16(1):1280.
doi: 10.4102/jphia.v16i1.1280. eCollection 2025.

Factors associated with infibulation among girls who underwent female genital mutilation in Guinea: Analysis DHS 2018

Kaba S Keita  1 , Tiany Sidibe  1 , Alpha O Sall  1 , Sadan Camara  1 , Fanta Barry  1 , Ramata Diallo  1 , Madeleine Toure  1 , Aissatou Diallo  1 , Mamadou D Balde  1 , Alexandre Delamou  2   3
Affiliations
Review

Factors associated with infibulation among girls who underwent female genital mutilation in Guinea: Analysis DHS 2018

Kaba S Keita et al. J Public Health Afr. .

Abstract

Background: Female genital mutilation (FGM), especially infibulation, is a significant public health issue that poses numerous health risks for young girls. Despite its severity, this phenomenon remains under-documented.

Aim: This study aims to identify the factors associated with infibulation among girls who underwent FGM in Guinea.

Setting: This study was conducted in Guinea.

Method: A secondary analysis of data from the 2018 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) in Guinea included 3950 women whose daughters had undergone female genital mutilation or excision (FGM/E). A multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with infibulation using the Stata software version 17.

Results: The overall prevalence of infibulation among girls who underwent female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C) in Guinea was 16%. This prevalence was higher at 17% (95% confidence interval [CI]: [0.1-0.2]) among girls aged 0 years to 4 years. Statistically significant individual and contextual factors included: maternal age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.4, 95% CI: [1.1-2.6]), maternal employment status (OR = 1.7, 95% CI: [1.3-2.2]), maternal religion (OR = 2.7, 95% CI: [1.2-5.8]), maternal infibulation status (OR = 22.1, 95% CI: [16.6-29.4]) and region of residence (OR = 2.8, 95% CI: [1.6-4.8]).

Conclusion: This study highlights the need for educational, socio-economic and public health strategies to eradicate infibulation in Guinea and promote sustainable change.

Contribution: This research revealed the influence of individual and contextual factors on infibulation and highlighted the emergency of targeted strategies, such as awareness raising, community dialogue and education about its risks.

Keywords: DHS; FGM/C; Guinea; associated factors; infibulation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships that may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Conceptual framework of factors involved in the infibulation process.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Mapping the prevalence of infibulation by region, 2018 Demographic and Health Survey, Guinea.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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