Despite global condemnation, progress in eradicating FGM has been slow. Photo: Courtesy
By Adonis Byemelwa
It is not uncommon in Karatu District, Arusha Region, to hear disturbing reports from hospitals where medical practitioners witness young girls as young as three years old being subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM).
The reason? Fear that if left to mature, they might resist a practice that has, for generations, been upheld in the name of culture. Despite global campaigns against FGM, this deeply entrenched tradition continues to claim thousands of lives, with new research revealing the extent of its deadly toll.
In many pastoralist communities, the practice is rationalized as a way to control female sexuality. Men who spend long periods in the wilderness tending to livestock believe FGM prevents their wives from seeking other partners in their absence. But should such deeply flawed reasoning justify the brutal infliction of pain and suffering on innocent girls?
A new study now exposes a devastating reality: FGM is among the leading causes of death for girls and young women in the countries where it is prevalent.
The research estimates that approximately 44,000 deaths occur annually due to complications arising from the practice. That equates to one girl dying every 12 minutes.
This staggering figure places FGM among the top killers of young women—surpassing even diseases such as HIV/AIDS, measles, and meningitis in the affected regions.
Dr. Dorothy Gwajima, a leading voice in Tanzania’s health sector, has raised alarm over the horrifying statistics, questioning how such a deadly practice continues to thrive despite legal prohibitions.
She points out that, apart from the immediate dangers of excessive bleeding, infection, and trauma, long-term effects include complications in childbirth, which further exacerbate maternal and infant mortality rates.
Yet, in some regions, FGM is still performed under the radar, in secret ceremonies that leave no room for medical intervention when things go wrong.
For decades, activists and policymakers have struggled to quantify the true impact of FGM on mortality rates. One of the biggest challenges has been the clandestine nature of the practice.
Because it often takes place in non-clinical settings, without professional oversight, deaths linked to FGM frequently go unreported or are attributed to other causes. But with the latest research comparing FGM prevalence with age-specific mortality rates, the picture is becoming clearer—and grimmer.
The study analyzed 15 African countries with high FGM rates, including Guinea, where 97% of women and girls have undergone the procedure, Mali (83%), Sierra Leone (90%), and Egypt (87%).
The findings reveal that when FGM prevalence within an age group rises by 50 percentage points, mortality in that group increases by 0.1 percentage points.
While this might seem like a small number, across the affected populations, it translates to tens of thousands of preventable deaths every year.
To put this into perspective, armed conflicts in Africa caused approximately 48,000 combat deaths per year between 1995 and 2015. FGM, a practice carried out in the name of culture, is responsible for almost as many deaths—without a single shot being fired. Yet, the world remains largely silent.
The consequences are not only physical but also psychological. Many survivors suffer from lifelong trauma, depression, and social ostracization.
In societies where FGM is deeply tied to marriageability, families fear exclusion and shame if they refuse to subject their daughters to the cut. This vicious cycle ensures that even those who wish to abandon the practice find themselves under immense pressure to conform.
Despite global condemnation, progress in eradicating FGM has been slow. While some communities have abandoned the practice due to education and advocacy, in many places, efforts remain insufficient.
The COVID-19 pandemic further derailed progress, with the UN estimating that 2 million additional girls were subjected to FGM due to lockdowns disrupting prevention programs. Based on current mortality estimates, this could mean around 4,000 additional deaths in just the 15 countries studied.
Laws alone have proven insufficient. In five of the 28 most affected countries, FGM remains legal. Even where it is banned, enforcement is weak, and clandestine procedures continue unabated. Real change must come from within communities themselves. Education, alternative rites of passage, and empowering local organizations to challenge harmful traditions are critical.
Previous research has demonstrated that strategic interventions can work. For example, social media campaigns in Egypt and community-driven educational films have successfully altered perceptions, leading to reduced FGM rates in some areas. But the scale of the crisis demands urgent and intensified efforts.
This is not just about challenging outdated traditions—it is about saving lives. Every year that passes without decisive action means tens of thousands more girls suffering, and thousands more dying. FGM is not just a violation of human rights; it is a public health emergency that should be treated with the same urgency as major infectious diseases.
The question remains: how many more young lives must be lost before the world truly wakes up to this crisis? The fight against FGM must be relentless, unwavering, and backed by the strongest political and social will. It is not merely an issue of culture—it is an issue of survival.