Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Prevalence, knowledge, attitude and practices of female genital  mutilation and cutting  
(FGM/C) among United Arab Emirates population  
 
Version:  0 Date: 16 Jul 2019  
 
Reviewer: Hassan Abduljabbar  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
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BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth  
 
Manuscript Number: BMWH -D-19-00256  
 
Full Title: Prevalence, knowledge, attitude and practices of female genital mutilation and cutting 
(FGM/C) among United Arab Emirates population  
 
Article Type: Research article  
 
Generall y  
The title reflects the study accurately.  
Subject it involves an important and interesting area of obstetrics and gynecology  
The study is (Not Original), performed in different countries  
 
Hussein, M., Adem, A. &amp;  Mohammed, M., 2013. Knowledge, atti tude and practice of 
female genital mutilation among women in Jigjiga Town, Eastern Ethiopia. Gaziantep Medical 
Journal, 19(3), p.164.  
 
Kaplan, A. et al., 2013. Knowledge, attitudes and practices of female genital mutilation/cutting 
among health care profe ssionals in The Gambia: a multiethnic study. BMC Public Health, 13(1).  
 
The message of the study might have additional knowledge to the medical literature.  
 
The abstract reflects the research and very easy to understand. It is a good balanced summary it 
is well written   
 
The Objective is clear (to explore the prevalence, attitudes, complications and acceptability 
towards FGM/C among female and male population in the UAE)  
 
Introduction  
Background: Female Genital Mutilation/ Cutting (FGM/C) is a common pra ctice among women 
in developing countries.  
 
Female Genital Mutilation - apps.who.int.  
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/65857/WHO_CHS_WMH_99.5.pdf;sequence=1  
 
Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: Innovative Training https://www.hindawi.com  
/journals/ogi/2018/5043512.  
 
Methods  
Questionnaire -based cross -sectional study ( is it validated )  
Conducted among 1035 (80.3%) females and (19.7%) males  
Approved through the Al Ain Medical District Human Research Ethics Committee 
(AAMDHREC) on February 2 016. 
 
Structured/semi -structured questionnaire specific either for females or male participants 
translated both in to English and Arabic was used, ensuring inclusion of both Arabic and non - 
Arabic speakers.  
 
The questionnaire was pre -tested on clerkship s tudents in order to improve the  relevance and 
appropriateness of the questions to the UAE society.  
 
The questionnaire was revised appropriately after the pretest exercise.  
 
statistics very basic  
 
Results:  
 
The number of women with FGM/C was 344/ 831; h ence the prevalence of FGM/C in our study 
was 41.4%. Type I, was the most prevalent n=216 (62.8%), Type II, n=57 (16.6%), while Type 
III n=17 (5%). FGM/C was less prevalent among educated and employed women (p -value 
&lt;0.001). Majority of FGM/C was perfor med during infancy and childhood.  
 
Among participants 114 (13.7%) reported that their daughters underwent FGM/C with Type I the 
main type, and 25% of them planned type I for their future daughters. FGM/C was mostly 
performed by ritual circumcisers (n=232,  74.4%), 78 (25%) were done by health professional, 
and 117 (36.7%) in clinics. About 69% of participants consider FGM/C as a custom and were 
against the practice of FGM/C (72.8%), and only 180 (17.4%) believed that FGM/C is legal in 
UAE.  
 
Complications  
occurred in 30% of cases. The type of FGM/C was associated with the occurrence of  
complications: bleeding, difficult sexual life, difficulties with deliveries (p -value &lt;0.05).  
One fifth of male participants expressed plans to circumcise future daughters, with pvalue  
&lt;0.001.  
9 tables not clear and mostly number and % , some mistakes need to be revised  
 
Discussion  
Description and results of the study + very minimal knowledg e and information about similar 
study  
Please describe ethnic group  
sampling inclusion and exclusion criteria  
different laboratory   
 
Complications  
occurred in 30% of cases. The type of FGM/C was associated with the occurrence of  
complications: bleeding, difficult sexual life, difficulties with deliveries (p -value &lt;0.05).  
One fifth of male participants expressed plans to circumcise future daughters, with pvalue  
&lt;0.001.  
 
References  
Total 23 some are not (validated or not checked)   before 2010  
 
 
Are the methods appropriate and w ell described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional s tatistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
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1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain  or lose financially from the publication of this  
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2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the fut ure? 
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of  the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
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