Sci Rep. 2025 Jun 3;15(1):19489. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-03878-9.
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to examine mental health outcomes associated with FGM and identify possible predictors for the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in women affected by Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). A cross-sectional study was conducted among women who attended to Somalia Mogadishu Research and Training Hospital. Brief Resilience Scale, National Stressful Events Questionnaire for PTSD-Short Scale, Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form, Satisfaction with Life Scale, were used to collect data. Assessments of 180 women who underwent FGM revealed significant positive correlations between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) subscales (r = 0.32-0.52, p < 0.01). Key predictors of PTSD severity included trauma history, sexual dysfunction, unanticipated FGM procedures, and maternal or grandmother decision-making (β = 0.45, p < 0.001; β = 0.32, p < 0.01; β = 0.28, p < 0.05; β = 0.34, p < 0.01). Psychological resilience served as a protective factor against PTSD (β = – 0.22, p < 0.05). Childhood trauma, especially physical and sexual abuse, showed strong positive correlations with PTSD and other psychological symptoms (r = 0.32-0.52, p < 0.01). Key predictors of psychological distress included emotional neglect (β = – 0.28, p < 0.01), fear of violence (β = 0.22, p < 0.05), and low psychological resilience (β = – 0.22, p < 0.05). The study showed that women with FGM presents with substantially higher levels of PTSD. The primary decision-makers in the practice of FGM are predominantly mothers and grandmothers.
PMID:40461605 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-03878-9
