Female genital cutting in home countries and among African immigrant populations: the case of Italy

Patrizia Farina, Università degli Studi di Milano - Bicocca
Livia Ortensi, Università degli Studi di Milano - Bicocca

Female genital cutting (FGC) is a common practice in many societies in the northern half of sub-Saharan Africa. As in recent years a combination of economic, political, social and environmental factors induced a sustained migration of women from Africa to economic developed countries, FGC has become an issue in many countries for its diffusion among migrant populations. The aims of contribute are 1)estimate FGC in Lombardy - Italy through a questionnaire largely derived from DHS in order to enable comparisons with non-migrants and 2) to assess the profile of women supporting the practice and willing to submit their daughters too. The results of research confirm the lower prevalence of FGC among migrants, the differences among nationalities, and also that the proportion of migrant women supporting the practice and willing to submit their daughters to it is very low.