European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology
Volume 121, Issue 2, 2005, Pages 182-185

No association between female circumcision and prolonged labour: A case control study of immigrant women giving birth in Sweden (Article)

Essén B.* , Sjöberg N.-O. , Gudmundsson S. , Östergren P.-O. , Lindqvist P.G.
  • a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital MAS, SE-20502 Malmö, Sweden
  • b Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital MAS, SE-20502 Malmö, Sweden
  • c Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital MAS, SE-20502 Malmö, Sweden
  • d Department of Community Medicine, University Hospital MAS, Malmö, Sweden
  • e Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital MAS, SE-20502 Malmö, Sweden

Abstract

Objective: Several authors' associate female genital circumcision with obstructed and prolonged labour, but the World Health Organization recently stated that no scientific evidence confirms such a relationship. The object of this study was to compare the duration of the second stage of labour between circumcised and non-circumcised women in a high-income community in Europe. Methods: Sixty-eight circumcised nulliparous women originally from the Horn of Africa were compared to a group of 2486 non-circumcised nulliparous who gave birth at a university hospital setting in Sweden, 1990-1996. Defibulation was routinely performed during labour. Findings: Circumcised women were found to have had second stage labour, which was significantly statistically shorter (35/53 min, respectively, p ≤ 0.001) and a lower risk of prolonged labour than the non-circumcised group. Conclusions: Prolonged labour does not seem to be associated to female genital circumcision in affluent societies with high standards of obstetric care. © 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

Prolonged labour immigrants female circumcision

Index Keywords

statistical analysis controlled study female major clinical study immigrant world health organization priority journal Article female circumcision community care income human adult
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-23044441144&doi=10.1016%2fj.ejogrb.2004.12.010&partnerID=40&md5=d8742f03e08f6f1a050af0c189c69f25
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2004.12.010
ISSN: 03012115
Cited by: 32
Original Language: English