Female Genital Mutilation, Cutting, or Circumcision

Female genital mutilation (FGM), female genital cutting, or female circumcision of women, the theme addressed in this special issue has many terms. The short form acronym FGM is understood by most, and it does contain the notion that we are talking about a traditional practice that is harmful. The practice affects women in diaspora as well as African countries, and men are involved as decision makers and attitude changers. Cutting is a neutral term, and circumcision is a more traditional terminology. Each term carries a certain value. But the practice is the same regardless of name. In order to understand the tradition, assist women who have undergone it, and promote action against it, it is important to have solid knowledge. This knowledge is partly medical and partly social. Thus, research based on a multitude of methods is warranted. This special issue is indeed a combination of social science and medical research on different aspects of the practice, that is also a genital health hazard for women. The special issue addresses FGM from different angles and geographical places. Somalis are heavily affected as well with the most extensive form of FGM, and several studies presented are from Somalia or about Somalis elsewhere. There is a paper on health provider issues from Somalia that reveals how health workers may view the practice in a country where cutting is the norm (Lazar et al.). The other side of the issue in Somaliland, the care needed by clients, is described in another paper (Fried et al.). But also in West Africans, where most practice less extensive forms of FGM, its gender aspects is addressed, as the studies from the Gambia and Sierra Leone demonstrate (Kaplan et al. and Bjälkander et al.). In Sierra Leone, as in other countries, there are some difficulties encountered in how to assess the types and magnitude of FGM. The phenomenon of FGM is important to gynaecologists for several reasons. Firstly, as it is a harmful practice that affects women, OB/GYN professionals may want to participate in initiatives that lead to its abandonment. As this is a topic that many people feel strongly about, some work on but fewer actually know how to handle, several articles in this issue may assist those who want to do their share in defining appropriate community interventions that they may want to engage in. The review of strategies presented here and the paper on …