FEMALE CIRCUMCISION AS A PUBLIC-HEALTH ISSUE

In many civilizations, certain surgical procedures have profound cultural and social meanings. Male circumcision, for example, has deep importance as a symbol of religious and ethnic identity and has played a major part in the political and social history of many peoples1. Female circumcision has particularly strong cultural meaning because it is closely linked to women's sexuality and their reproductive role in society. Female circumcision is practiced today in 26 African countries, with prevalence rates ranging from 5 percent to 99 percent. It is rarely practiced in Asia. It is estimated that at least 100 million women are circumcised… © 1994, Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved.