Darwinian blowback in Africa

Women with the most extensive female genital mutilation, which sometimes involves stitching or narrowing of the vaginal opening, have a 30% greater risk of having to undergo a Caesarean section and also face a 70% greater risk of haemorrhage shortly after childbirth compared with women who have not had FGM.

Women with any degree of FGM also had a 15-55% increased risk of stillbirth or early neonatal death – with more extensive FGM causing the highest risk – compared with women who had not had the procedure.

Their babies were also more likely to die during labour. Banks observed one to two extra deaths per 100 deliveries of babies born to mothers with FGM, against a background risk of 4-6 deaths per 100 deliveries.


Anyone who would do that deserves to have his line die out, and it's nice to see that nature agrees to some extent.

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