Literature review : the practice of female circumcision

This study reviews medical and scientific literature available in the United States on the subject. After an introductory note on the source material, Part I of the study defines the four types of female circumcision (clitoridectomy, infibulation, a modification of the two, and reinfibulation) and describes the geographical distribution of the areas in Africa and Asia in which each type of circumcision is practiced and the age distribution of recipients by tribe and region. The sociological reasons for the practice and its various deleterious health effects are listed. It is concluded that, although the literature lacks the statistical data and analyses needed for a solid assessment of the practice"s magnitude and health effects, it does indicate a need for effective counteraction. Part II presents a bibliography of available literature in English and French. A detailed abstract is provided for each article cited, except for those containing extensive data or research methodologies, which are reprinted in full. Abstracts of entries containing case histories are grouped separately.