Determinants of disagreement with female genital mutilation/cutting of future daughters and awareness of the ban among Egyptian university students
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Authors
Mostafa, Aya
Gaballah, Shaimaa Ashmawy
Amin, Ghada Essamaldin
Issue Date
2020-06-10
Type
Article
Language
en_US
Keywords
Female Genital Mutilation , Female Genital Cutting , University Students , Gender , Knowledge , Perception , Policy , Ban , Egypt
Alternative Title
Abstract
Background:
Egypt is one of three countries where half of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) victims live, despite its ban. To inform policy on the awareness of this ban and the impact of other interventions, this study sought to assess FGM/C-related knowledge, perceptions, and determinants of disagreement with FGM/C and circumcision of future daughters among university students.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire in a random sample of 502 male and female students in Menoufia University between September and December 2017. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed.
Results:
Students were 21.0 ± 1.6 years old; 270 (54.0%) were males, 291 (58.0%) were non-medical students, and 292 (58.2%) were rural residents. 204 (46.7%) students were not aware of the ban and their main source of information about FGM/C was educational curricula or health education sessions (162, 37.0%). Only 95 (19.0%) students had good knowledge about FGM/C. 217 (43.3%) students were neutral towards discontinuing FGM/C. 280 (56.2%) students disagreed with FGM/C. 296 (59.3%) students disagreed with circumcision of their future daughters; independent determinants of this outcome were awareness of the ban (ORa = 1.9) and disagreement with: FGM/C preserves females’ virginity (ORa = 5.0), has religious basis (ORa = 3.8), makes females happier in marriage (ORa = 3.5), enhances females’ hygiene (ORa = 2.1).
Conclusions:
Knowledge about FGM/C and its ban is low, even in this educated population. FGM/C is still misperceived as a religious percept. Maximizing the utilization of health education and curricula might help increase anti-FGM/C attitudes among university students with neutral perceptions and initiate the much-needed momentum for elimination.
Description
Citation
Mostafa, A., Gaballah, S. A., & Amin, G. E. (2020). Determinants of disagreement with female genital mutilation/cutting of future daughters and awareness of the ban among Egyptian university students. Reproductive health, 17(1), 91. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-020-00941-8
Publisher
Reproductive Health