Peer-reviewed article
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Indonesia: Systematic Review
Rafidha Nur Alifah, Alfiana Ainun Nisa, Efa Nugroho, Dwi Yunanto Hermawan ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This systematic review examined female genital mutilation (FGM) practices in Indonesia, where over half of girls aged 0-11 years have undergone the procedure. The review identified ten studies and analysed factors influencing the practice, including maternal age, education, knowledge, cultural beliefs, family support, and access to information. The authors conclude that FGM persists primarily due to strong cultural and traditional beliefs within communities, despite scientific evidence showing no health benefits and legal prohibitions.
Key points
- 51.2% of girls aged 0-11 years in Indonesia have undergone female circumcision
- Indonesia is the third largest country practising FGM globally
- Maternal age, maternal education, knowledge, culture/tradition, beliefs, and family support are key factors influencing FGM practice
- FGM is opposed by international health organizations and banned by law
- Scientific evidence shows female circumcision has no health benefits
Limitations
This document is a systematic review that synthesises existing literature but does not report original empirical data or evaluate an intervention. It cannot tell us about the effectiveness of specific programmes or strategies to reduce FGM in Indonesia, nor does it provide detailed quantitative analysis of the relative importance of different influencing factors.
Abstract
Introduction: Indonesia is the third largest country that carries out female circumcision. As many as 51.2% of girls aged 0-11 years have undergone female circumcision. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) or female circumcision is a dangerous traditional practice that still occurs in Indonesia, which has caused pros and cons among the community even though, based on scientific studies, female circumcision has been proven to have no health benefits. Female circumcision has even been banned by law and opposed by international health organizations. Objective: The study aims to identify factors influencing female circumcision in Indonesia, focusing on the Social Determinant and Health theory. Method: This study is a systematic review that collects several studies according to the PRISMA guidelines. Using relevant keywords, studies were obtained from various databases, such as Garuda, Google Scholar, and Semantic Scholar. Studies were collected from June to July 2024. Result: From 2.254 articles found, ten articles were selected for further analysis. Factors such as maternal age, maternal education, knowledge, culture/tradition, beliefs, family support, and sources of information also influence the practice of circumcision in female children. Conclusion: Female circumcision is a dangerous traditional practice that is still carried out today due to the culture and beliefs of the local community, which are still strong and believe that female circumcision must be carried out on their daughters.