INTRODUCTION:
The study aimed to investigate the determinants, types, severity, and perceived health consequences of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) among adolescent girls aged 12 to 19 in Mogadishu, Somalia, where nuanced data on urban youth is limited.

METHODS:
A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted with 418 adolescent girls in four districts using a multi-stage cluster sampling method. Data, collected via a semi-structured questionnaire, classified FGM severity according to WHO definitions. Multivariable ordered logistic regression was used to identify associated factors.

RESULTS:
The results showed a universal FGM prevalence (100%) among participants. The most common form was Type I (67.0%), followed by the most severe form, Type III (Infibulation), at 24.9%, and Type II at 8.1%. The multivariable analysis revealed that higher maternal education was a significant protective factor. Compared to daughters of illiterate mothers, those whose mothers had primary (AOR = 0.35; 95% CI: 0.17–0.76) or university-level education (AOR = 0.42; 95% CI: 0.19–0.93) had lower odds of undergoing more severe FGM. Conversely, adolescents reporting no peer influence regarding FGM had significantly higher odds of experiencing more severe types (AOR = 3.86; 95% CI: 1.75–8.52).

CONCLUSIONS:
FGM is a universal practice among adolescent girls in Mogadishu, with a concerningly high prevalence of Infibulation. Maternal education is a critical protective factor against FGM severity. Interventions must focus on enhancing female education and addressing powerful social norms that perpetuate this practice.