Distribution of FGM/C across Côte d’Ivoire
The highest prevalence of FGM/C in Côte d’Ivoire is in the north-west (75.2% of women aged 15–49) and north (73.7%). The lowest prevalence is in the centre (18.1%) and centre-east (23.7%). Women aged 15–49 who live in rural areas are more likely to undergo FGM (43.8%) than women who live in urban areas (30.8%). Prevalence in the capital of Ville d’Abidjan is 24.6%.
FGM/C is practised in Côte d’Ivoire by people of all religions and ethnic groups, although to different extents. The ethnic group with the highest prevalence among women aged 15–49 is the Mandé du nord, at 60.7%, followed by the Gur, at 59.1%. The group with the lowest prevalence is the Akan, at 2.7%, followed by the Krou, at 14.1%. However, these figures should be interpreted with caution due to the relatively small numbers of women surveyed.
Prevalence among Muslim women aged 15–49 is 61.5%, among animists and those ‘without religion’ is 48.5%, and among Christians is 11.8%.
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Trends in FGM/C Prevalence in Côte d’Ivoire
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The MICS 2006 recorded the prevalence of FGM/C in women aged 15–49 as 36.4%. In 2011/12, the DHS estimated prevalence to be 38.2%.
The most recent MICS survey (2016) gives an FGM/C prevalence of 36.7% among women aged 15–49. The data suggests, therefore, that the overall prevalence of FGM in Côte d’Ivoire has not changed significantly during recent years.
Breaking down the most recent data by age group, however, shows that the prevalence for women aged 45–49 is 41.5%, while for the youngest age group this has fallen to 27.4%. The data demonstrates a trend towards lower prevalences among younger women.
