September 8, 2011
Afrique en ligne
The rate of female circumcision dropped from 28 to 26 percent between 2005 and 2011, according to the fifth Multiple Indicator Demographic and Health Survey in Senegal (EDSV-MICS), conducted under the auspices of the National Agency of Statistics and Demography (ANSD).
According to ANSD, which presented the preliminary results of the survey here Wednesday, the survey was based on levels of fertility, sexual activity, fertility preferences, as well as knowledge and the use of family planning methods, among others.
'With regard to the practice (circumcision), nearly 26 percent of all women surveyed are reported circumcised. In 2005, this practice was 28 percent,' said ANSD.
It said female circumcision was less common in cities (23 percent), compared to 28% in rural areas, while the rate of circumcision is higher in uneducated women than the educated ones, and decreases in accordance with the (higher) level of education.
The survey also shows that religion plays a role, with nearly 27 percent of Muslims having undergone circumcision, against just under 7 percent for Christian women.
'The most important differences are observed according to ethnicity and region. While female circumcision is virtually nonexistent among the Wolof (less than 1 percent) and the Serer (2.2 percent), it affects more than 8 out of 10 women among mandinka (82 percent), 65 percent among Soninke, nearly 55 percent among the Fulani and nearly 52 percent among the Diola, ' the ANSD said.
The survey was conducted from October 2010 and April 2011 among a national sample of 8212 households in Senegal.
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Pana 19/08/2011