Female genital mutilation (FGM) is very pervasive in Africa, with significant regional variations in the prevalence of this traditional practice. This study examined the linkages between FGM and multiple sexual partnership in Mali and Sierra Leone – two African countries with a high prevalence of FGM. Data were from the 2018 Mali and 2013 Sierra Leone Demographic and Health Surveys, and the study sample comprised 4750 women from Mali and 16,614 from Sierra Leone. Multilevel logistic regression was used for the data analysis, with reported adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and associated 95% confidence intervals. In Mali, women who had not undergone FGM were less likely to have multiple sexual partners (aOR=0.60, CI=0.38–0.96) compared with those who had undergone FGM. In Sierra Leone, women who had undergone FGM (aOR=1.15, CI=1.02–1.30) were more likely to have multiple sexual partners compared with those who had not undergone FGM. Age, level of education, wealth quintile, sex of household head, community socioeconomic status, mass media exposure, and community literacy level were found to be associated with the likelihood of multiple sexual partnership among women in Mali and Sierra Leone. Comprehensive, age-group-based risk-reduction strategies, such as abstinence education and decision-making skills (assertiveness) training, are needed to reduce girls’ and young women’s engagement in multiple sexual partnerships. Policy interventions, such as anti-FGM legislation and initiatives like the ‘Schooling for the Female Child’ initiative aimed at reducing social inequality among girls and women, might help decrease FGM and the likelihood of health-compromising behaviours like multiple sexual partnership.

女性生殖器切割（FGM）在非洲非常普遍，这种传统做法的流行程度存在显着的地区差异。这项研究调查了马里和塞拉利昂这两个女性生殖器切割盛行率很高的非洲国家的女性生殖器切割与多重性伴侣之间的联系。数据来自 2018 年马里和 2013 年塞拉利昂人口和健康调查，研究样本包括来自马里的 4750 名女性和来自塞拉利昂的 16,614 名女性。使用多级逻辑回归进行数据分析，并报告调整优势比 (aOR) 和相关的 95% 置信区间。在马里，与接受过女性生殖器切割的女性相比，未接受过女性生殖器切割的女性拥有多个性伴侣的可能性较小（aOR=0.60，CI=0.38-0.96）。在塞拉利昂，与未经历过女性生殖器切割的女性相比，接受过女性生殖器切割的女性（aOR=1.15，CI=1.02-1.30）更有可能拥有多个性伴侣。研究发现，马里和塞拉利昂妇女的年龄、教育水平、财富五分位数、户主性别、社区社会经济地位、大众媒体曝光度和社区识字水平与多重性伴侣的可能性有关。需要采取全面的、基于年龄组的风险降低策略，例如禁欲教育和决策技能（自信）培训，以减少女孩和年轻妇女参与多种性伙伴关系。政策干预措施，例如反女性生殖器切割立法和旨在减少女孩和妇女之间社会不平等的“女童就学”倡议等举措，可能有助于减少女性生殖器切割和多种性伴侣等危害健康行为的可能性。