Peer-reviewed article
The effect of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) on girls/women's mental health: a case-control study in Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Abdullah FZ ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study compared mental health outcomes in 145 girls and women with female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and 145 without FGM/C in Iraqi Kurdistan. Girls and women with FGM/C had significantly higher rates of mental health disorders (72% versus 56%), including higher prevalence of depression and somatic disorders. Having a history of FGM/C increased the odds of mental health problems by 2.14 times. The findings indicate FGM/C is a risk factor for mental health problems in this population.
Key points
- 72% of girls and women with FGM/C presented mental health disorder symptoms compared to 56% without FGM/C (P=0.005)
- Depression and somatic disorders were significantly more prevalent in the FGM/C group (P<0.05)
- History of FGM/C was associated with 2.14 times higher odds of mental health problems (95% CI: 1.29-3.54)
- Age group 30-40 years was also significantly associated with mental health problems (AOR=2.01, 95% CI: 1.07-3.76)
- Study conducted in Halabja, Kurdistan Region of Iraq in 2020
Limitations
The study is cross-sectional and cannot establish causality or temporal relationships between FGM/C and mental health outcomes. Unmeasured confounding variables and selection bias may affect results, and findings are specific to one city in Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Abstract
Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is a violation of human rights and is associated with a range of health effects and consequences. It is common in Kurdistan region of Iraq. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of female genital mutilation/cutting on girls and women's mental health in Iraqi Kurdistan. The present case-control study was carried out on 145 girls and women with FGM/C and 145 girls and women without FGM/C in the city of Halabja, in the east of Iraqi Kurdistan, in 2020. Mental health status of the participants was measured using the 28-item version of General Health Questionnaire. Chi-square test was used in order to compare mental health and its dimensions in both groups. The multivariate logistic model with odds ratio was applied to determine the relationship of independent variables with the outcome variable (mental health status). In total, almost 72% (n = 104) of girls and women with FGM/C and 56% (n = 81) of girls and women without FGM/C presented the symptoms of mental health disorders and this difference was statistically significant (P-value = 0.005). Also, the prevalence of depression and somatic disorders among girls and women with FGM/C was higher than among girls and women without FGM/C and this difference was significant (P-value < 0.05). Based on the results of multivariate logistic regression, the variables of having a history of FGM/C (AOR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.29-3.54), and being in an age group of 30-40 years (AOR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.07-3.76) had a significant effect on presenting the symptoms of mental problems. A significant percentage of women and girls with a history of FGM/C had symptoms of mental disorders. FGM/C was a risk factor for a higher chance of presenting symptoms of mental disorders. We need to try to reduce and eradicate FGM/C by educating the public about the health consequences of FGM/C and enacting restrictive laws and monitoring proper implementation of them.