Estimating the prevalence of female genital mutilation in Portugal

- Due to migration, female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) sprawled to countries where it did not traditionally occur.
- We estimate that 6576 women living in Portugal were subjected to FGM/C.
- We estimate that 1830 girls in Portugal have already or will probably undergo FGM/C.
- This study gives information on the extension and territorial distribution of FGM/C.
- This knowledge will contribute to more targeted and effective health public policies.

ObjectivesDue to globalized migratory processes, female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) has spread to other countries, including countries in Europe, where, with a few exceptions, it remains a concealed problem. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first national extensive study to estimate the prevalence of FGM/C in Portugal.Study designPrevalence estimation.MethodsUsing extrapolation of country-of-origin prevalence data and the 2011 Census data, this study estimated: the prevalence of FGM/C in Portugal among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) and among all women aged ≥15 years; and the number of girls aged <15 years living in Portugal who have undergone or will probably undergo FGM/C.ResultsIt is estimated that 6576 women aged ≥15 years living in Portugal have undergone FGM/C, with cases distributed unevenly throughout the national territory. In addition, it is estimated that 1830 girls aged <15 years living in Portugal have undergone or are likely to undergo FGM/C.ConclusionsThis study estimated that more than 6000 women living in Portugal have undergone FGM/C, and many girls remain at risk. These two groups need different types of interventions. Awareness of the number and geographical dispersion of cases of FGM/C will enable more informed and targeted definition of public health policies for protection of females who have undergone or are at risk of undergoing FGM/C.