Prevalence and maternal factors associated with female genital mutilation among infants in sub-Saharan Africa

Scientific literature about the prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) among infants and associated maternal factors in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is limited. To fill this gap, a secondary analysis of the 2015–2021 Demographic and Health Surveys from ten selected sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries was conducted to: firstly, disaggregate the magnitude of FGM among daughters by age, and secondly, identify associated maternal factors. The study involved a weighted sample of 50,568 mothers aged 15–49 years drawn from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) of 10 selected SSA countries. The outcome variable of this study was female genital mutilation among daughters of reproductive-aged women. Reproductive-aged women with at least one daughter were asked if any of their daughters had undergone FGM, with responses recorded as No = 0 or Yes = 1. Additionally, mothers were prompted to provide the age of their daughter at the time of circumcision. Independent variables included maternal characteristics of a child. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariable analyses were conducted and p < 0.05 at 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to determine the significant factor. The study revealed that the pooled prevalence of FGM among daughters in the selected SSA countries is 25.7%. Of these, a significant majority (54.4%) underwent FGM during infancy, followed by those aged 2–5 years (24.9%), indicating that nearly 80% of affected girls are subjected to FGM in the age of 0–5 years. Moreover, multivariable Poisson analysis showed that: advanced age, being married/living with a partner, having primary level of education and below; being poor; living in a rural setting; having a perception that FGM is required by religion, and having a perception that FGM should continue were associated with FGM among daughters. The study highlights a deeply concerning reality: the vast majority of girls in the selected SSA countries undergo FGM before the age of five, with a particularly high prevalence among infants. This early exposure underscores the urgency of targeted interventions during the earliest stages of a child’s life.