DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sjmcr.2026.v14i06.058

Pages: 1576-1579

Female genital mutilation (FGM) constitutes a harmful traditional practice representing both a major global public health issue and a serious violation of fundamental human rights. According to recent epidemiological data, more than 230 million girls and women are affected worldwide, with prevalence concentrated primarily in sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. The practice is most often perpetrated before the age of 15 years, thereby exposing minors to medical risks without the possibility of informed consent. From a nosological perspective, FGM is defined as all non-medically indicated procedures resulting in partial or total alteration of the female external genitalia. The World Health Organization distinguishes four distinct anatomoclinical types, none of which presents demonstrated therapeutic benefit. Regarding complications, FGM is associated with an extensive spectrum of lesions including acute complications severe pain, hemorrhage, and infections as well as chronic sequelae including uro-gynecological disorders, obstetric complications, increased neonatal mortality, and long-term psychological repercussions. The persistence of this practice is explained by a complex set of sociocultural determinants, including the weight of social norms, community pressures, mechanisms of female sexuality control, and persistent erroneous beliefs. Furthermore, the growing phenomenon of medicalization of FGM consisting of entrusting its performance to healthcare professionals does not reduce the inherent risks of the practice and, on the contrary, contributes to its social and institutional legitimization, thus constituting an additional obstacle to eradication efforts. Given these challenges, an effective prevention strategy requires a multidimensional and intersectoral approach, articulating community awareness interventions, strengthening national and international legal frameworks, as well as holistic and integrated care for affected individuals, incl