Abstract
BackgroundChad is one of the African countries with high prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM). The aim of this study was to examine the factors associated with FGM among women aged 15–49 and girls aged 0–14 in Chad.MethodsData for the study were obtained from the 2014–2015 Chad Demographic and Health Survey. FGM among women aged 15–49 and girls aged 0–14 were the outcome variables. The prevalence of FGM among women and girls were presented using percentages while a mixed-effects multilevel multivariable logistic regression analysis was carried out to assess the factors associated with FGM. The results were presented using adjusted odds ratio with associated 95% confidence intervals.ResultsThe results indicate that more than half (50.2%) of the women and 12.9% of girls in Chad had been circumcised. Among women aged 15–49, level of education, employment status, ethnicity, religion, wealth quintile and community literacy level were significant predictors of FGM. Age, partner’s level of education, marital status, employment status, ethnicity, religion and mother’s FGM status were associated with FGM among girls aged 0–14.ConclusionThis study has identified several individual and contextual factors as predictors of FGM among women and girls in Chad. The findings imply the need to adopt strategies aimed at addressing these factors in order to help eliminate the practice of FGM. Government and non-governmental organisations in Chad need to implement policies that enhance media advocacy and community dialogue to help deal with FGM in the country.
Highlights
Chad is one of the African countries with high prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM)
Prevalence of female genital mutilation among women and girls 0–14 years in Chad Figure 1 shows the prevalence of FGM among women and girls aged 0–14 in Chad
The results indicate that more than half (50.2%) of the women and 12.9% of girls aged 0–14 in Chad had been circumcised
Summary
Chad is one of the African countries with high prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM). Female genital mutilation (FGM) involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons [1]. It is conducted in Africa and the Middle. In Africa, FGM is practiced in 29 countries, with variations in terms of the proportion of girls and women who have undergone FGM in each country [7]. The first indicator reports on the prevalence of the practice as the percentage of girls and women of reproductive age (15–49) who have experienced any form of FGM [7]. In Ethiopia, Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Liberia, the proportion of women aged 15–49 who have undergone FGM is between 51 and 80% whiles in chad, 44% of women have undergone FGM [7]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
