Information on Female Genital Cutting

Published by the Population Reference Bureau (PRB), this 21-page report is the result of a year-long review by PRB and four other cooperating agencies to answer the question: what information exists on female genital cutting (FGC) and what information gaps are perceived by individuals and groups that work to eradicate this practice?

Through funding from USAID, information was gathered via in-country questionnaires administered in eight African countries (Burkina Faso, Egypt, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Mali, Senegal, and Uganda) where FGC is practiced and through the Internet survey tool, SurveyMonkey. The five groups that collaborated to evaluate the information (PRB, FHI PATH, Population Council, and the Manoff Group) also conducted an informal review of 29 websites commonly known to carry information on FGC.

According to the PRB, the picture that has emerged - of gaps in information, particularly on best practices, success stories, and evaluated operations research - will prove useful to decisionmakers and programme managers everywhere as they try to get the best information into the right hands.