Peer-reviewed article
3.3-O5Estimating the prevalence of female genital mutilation in England and Wales
Alison Macfarlane ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study estimates the prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM) among women living in England and Wales by applying prevalence data from 29 African and Middle Eastern countries to census and birth registration records. The researchers identified women born in countries where FGM is practised and mapped estimated prevalence rates across local authority areas. Prevalence was highest in London boroughs (up to 4.7% in Southwark) and other urban areas, with estimates of 0.5% across England and Wales overall.
Key points
- Highest prevalence rates found in London boroughs: 4.7% in Southwark, 3.9% in Brent
- Outside London, Manchester, Slough, Bristol, Leicester and Birmingham had rates of 1.2–1.6%
- Prevalence of 0.5% across England and Wales as a whole
- No local authority area had zero prevalence, indicating affected women and girls likely live everywhere
- Estimates were made using proxy data from 29 countries applied to census and birth registration records
Limitations
The study cannot quantify the prevalence or risk of FGM among girls actually born in England and Wales, only among daughters of women born in affected countries. The estimates depend on applying prevalence rates from other countries to migrant populations, whose actual prevalence may differ.
Abstract
Background: Female genital mutilation (FGM) is practised in 29 countries in Africa and the Middle East where national data are collected about it. FGM has also been documented in specific populations in other parts of the Middle East and Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Increasingly women born in these countries have migrated to England and Wales. Estimates of its prevalence are needed in order to plan health care for affected women and, where necessary, preventive care for their daughters. Methods: Proxy estimates of age specific prevalence from standardised surveys undertaken in the 29 countries were applied to the numbers of women born in those countries who were enumerated in the 2011 census or who registered births in England and Wales to estimate the numbers of affected women, the numbers of affected women giving birth and the numbers of daughters born to affected women living in each local authority area in England and Wales. Individual anonymised census and birth registration records were analysed which made it possible to exclude women from religious and ethnic groups who were unlikely to practise FGM. The estimates were published in tables and interactive maps. Results: The highest estimated prevalence rates were in London boroughs, with the highest being 4.7% of women in Southwark and 3.9% in Brent, compared to 0.5% in England and Wales as a whole. Outside London, Manchester, Slough, Bristol, Leicester and Birmingham have high prevalence rates, ranging from 1.2 to 1.6%. Nowhere had a prevalence of zero, so affected women and girls are likely to be living in every local authority area. Interpretation: Care is needed in interpreting these estimates for many reasons. It is not possible to quantify the prevalence or risk of FGM among girls born in England and Wales.