PREVALENCE OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION AND ITS ASSOCIATION BETWEEN FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION AND SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION PRESENTED AT TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM) and assess its association with female sexual dysfunction among women presenting to a tertiary care hospital.

Methods: This cross-sectional comparative study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shaikh Zaid Women Hospital, Larkana. A total of 280 women aged 15–49 years were enrolled through non-probability consecutive sampling. FGM was confirmed by clinical examination and classified as Type I or Type II according to World Health Organization criteria. Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) was assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), with a score ≤26 indicating FSD. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20, and associations were assessed using the Chi-square test.

Results: The mean age of participants was 31.8 ± 7.4 years. FGM was identified in 112 (40.0%) women, while 168 (60.0%) had no history of FGM. Among women with FGM, Type II FGM was more common than Type I FGM (58.9% vs. 41.1%). Female sexual dysfunction was significantly more prevalent among women with FGM than among those without FGM (87.5% vs. 28.6%, p<0.001). Women with FGM had significantly lower mean FSFI scores (22.4 ± 4.8 vs. 28.7 ± 4.1, p<0.001). FSD was also more common in women with Type II FGM compared with Type I FGM (95.5% vs. 76.1%, p=0.003).

Conclusion: Female genital mutilation was significantly associated with female sexual dysfunction, particularly among women with Type II FGM. Preventive strategies and awareness programs are needed to eliminate this harmful practice.