Effect of parental attitudes on the practice and medicalization of female genital mutilation: a secondary analysis of Egypt Health Issues Survey,2015 (2022)
This study is a Descriptive research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics:
Author(s): Aziz M,Elgibaly O,Ibrahim FE.
FGM/C Type(s): All
Health area of focus: None.
Objective: The study examined the attitudes of both parents towards the FGM practice in Egypt,and highlighted the effect of fathers’ decision making and attitudes towards FGM and violence on FGM practice and medicalizatio
Study Population: All individuals 1–59 included in that list were eligible for the individual survey interview
Findings: A considerable proportion of EHIS girls; 16.4% were circumcised and 36% of girls were expected to be circumcised. More than two thirds of circumcised girls were circumcised by a physician; namely 67% and 13.5% by nurses. The majority of mothers (88.4%) and fathers (84.8%) believed that FGM practice should continue. They believed that FGM is a religious obligation (72.3% of mothers and 73% of fathers). Parents believed that husbands prefer a circumcised wife (81.1% and 82.5% of mothers and fathers respectively). Being in the poorest wealth quintile (OR = 4.2,p < 0.001) and living in rural Upper Egypt (OR = 4.55,p < 0.001) were the predictors of FGM practice,while medicalization was more likely among the rich and educated parents. Parents' attitudes supporting FGM was significantly associated with its practice (OR = 1.97,p < 0.001,for mothers and OR = 1.27,p < 0.001,for fathers). Rejecting violence against women was associated with less likelihood of practicing FGM (OR = 0.89,p < 0.05) and more likelihood of its medicalization (OR = 1.25,p < 0.01).Conclusion: More attention should be paid to enforce the laws against FGM practice by health care providers. Raising the community awareness on girls' human rights and elimination of FGM practice which is a severe form of violence against women and gender inequality in sexual rights should be prioritized with targeting men in FGM programs.
Geographical coverage
Region(s):Northern Africa
Country(ies):Egypt