Abstract
Female genital mutilation (FGM) or circumcision refers to the unnecessary procedure that damages or removes the external genitalia of females. It is mostly practiced in African countries and some Asian regions, particularly the Middle East, and is performed because of cultural, religious, and social reasons. FGM can negatively affect the lives of women and lead to devastating consequences, ranging from immediate to long-term complications. These complications can be in the physical, psychological, reproductive, or sexual health domains. In this systematic review, we aim to highlight the prevalence and practice of FGM in Saudi Arabia. We conducted a literature search at PubMed to identify studies related to the practice of FGM reported from Saudi Arabia. The results indicate that FGM can still be found in Saudi Arabia both in Saudi women and non-Saudi residents. Most of the non-Saudi women with FGM were Sudanese, Somali, Eritrean, and Egyptian. FGM is prevalent in regions such as Jeddah and Hali, Al Qunfudhah Governorate, Saudi Arabia. FGM is considered illegal in most countries around the world. However, in Saudi Arabia, there is no clear and specific law against the practice of FGM. More research on the practice of FGM in Saudi Arabia needs to be conducted to get a better grasp of the true nature of the problem in the country, which could potentially lead to specific and clear legislation that would prevent the social evil of FGM in Saudi Arabia.
Highlights
BackgroundFemale genital mutilation (FGM) is any procedure that involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia for nonmedical purposes [1]
The results indicate that FGM can still be found in Saudi Arabia both in Saudi women and non-Saudi residents
FGM is illegal in many countries, there are no clear and specific legal restrictions regarding the practice of FGM in Saudi Arabia
Summary
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is any procedure that involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia for nonmedical purposes [1]. This practice is frequently done by traditional circumcisers who have some role in the communities, such as birth attendants. The reasons why FGM is performed differ between countries and time periods. It is a mix of historical, social, and cultural factors within communities and families [1]. The WHO estimated the costs of treating complications of FGM to be 1.4 billion US dollars during a one-year period in 27 countries in 2018 [2]. The cost is expected to be 2.3 billion in the 30 years if the prevalence of FGM procedures remains the same [2]
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