title: Epidemiology, Regional Characteristics, Knowledge, and Attitude Toward Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in Southern Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), also known as female circumcision, is an ancient traditional procedure that involves partial or total removal of the female external genitalia for nonmedical reasons. Although it is well described in African and some Arabic countries, data from Iran are scarce.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the epidemiology, regional characteristics, knowledge, and attitude toward FGM/C in Southern Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was conducted during a 36-month period from 2010 to 2013 in Hormozgan, a southern province of Iran near the Persian Gulf. We included 780 women in six major rural areas of the province who referred to healthcare centers for vaccination, midwifery, or family planning services. All participants underwent complete pelvic examination to determine the type of FGM. The questionnaire consisted of several sections such as demographic and baseline characteristics, and two self-report sections addressing the knowledge and attitude toward FGM/C and its complications. Baseline sociodemographic characteristics including age, educational level, marital status, religion, and nationality were the independent variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the participants, 535 (68.5%) had undergone FGM/C. FGM/C was associated with higher age (P = 0.002), Afghan nationality (P = 0.003), Sunni Islam as religion (P = 0.019), illiteracy (P < 0.001), and family history of FGM/C in mother (P < 0.001), sister (P < 0.001), and grandmother (P < 0.001). Ancient traditions in the area (57.1%) were mentioned as the most important factor leading to FMG/C. Urinary tract infection was the most common reported complication (60.4%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FGM/C is a common practice in rural areas of Southern Iran. It is associated with increased age, illiteracy, Sunni Islam religion, Afghan nationality, and positive family history. Lack of knowledge toward FGM/C is the main cause of its high prevalence and continuation in the area.
authors.affiliation: Health Policy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dehghankhalili
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Molecular Medicine, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
authors.forename: Soghra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fallahi
authors.affiliation: Fertility and Infertility Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
authors.forename: Forugh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mahmudi
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Fariborz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ghaffarpasand
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Esmaeil
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Shahrzad
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taghavi
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fereydooni Asl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000346:Afghanistan / Q000208:ethnology; D019093:Circumcision, Female / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000601:surgery*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D007514:Islam; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers; D015995:Prevalence; D057566:Self Report; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Determinants; Female Circumcision; Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting; Iran; Knowledge and Attitude