Prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation at Beni-Suef Governorate, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Female genital mutilation/cutting are procedures in which young girls' and women's external genital organs are manipulated, altered, or removed. Female genital mutilation is considered to be a kind of gender discrimination against women and girls. Aim: The present study was carried find out about FGM in Beni-Suef Governorate. Design: Descriptive Cross-sectional study. Setting: Family Health Centers (FHCs) in different Governorates at Beni-Suef. Sample: Convenient sample. Tools: pre-designed structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The questionnaire is divided into six sections: (I): Socio-demographic and personal data. (II): Knowledge of females regarding FGM/C. (III): Attitudes of females regarding FGM/C. (IV): Intention to practice FGM/C. (V): Reasons for practicing FGM/C and reasons for refusing FGM. (VI): Female Sexual Function Index (FSDI). Results:The prevalence of FGM/C was 71.4%. Only 25.7% of females had good knowledge about FGM/C; 35.5% had an unfavorable attitude towards supporting FGM/C. About 29.7% of participants in the current study are suffering from complications after FGM. There was a significantly higher Desire, Arousal, Lubrication, orgasm, Satisfaction domain, and Total score among not circumcised married participants than circumcised ones. However, the Pain domain didn't differ significantly between circumcised and not circumcised. Conclusion: the prevalence of FGM/C is still higher despite the health consequences of the procedure. There was a significant association between rural residence, lower mother and father education, marriage, and the presence of circumcision. Recommendation: Continuous educational programs for mothers and health care providers about FGM are required to increase their awareness.

Relationship between Socio Demographic Data and Female Genital Mutilation

“…It is similar to the results of EHIS which reported that the highest prevalence of FGM/C was in rural areas [29]. Also comparable to a study done in Beni-Suef, females from rural regions are far more likely to be mutilated than those from urban ones [17].…”

“…The mean age of FGM/C discovered in this study was equal to that of FGM/C reported among schoolgirls in Beni-Suef which was (12-16) years (Khamis, et al, 2019). On the other hand, it was lower than the mean age FGM/C discovered among Beni-Suef university student [17].…”

“…The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund released the first joint statement directly addressing FGM/C in 1997 [9]. Since then, the international response has picked up speed [10][11][12][13][14].…”

“…Although the procedure is known as clitoridectomy in the nations where it is performed, its unpleasant physical and psychological ramifications have led to the use of the Latin term "mutylatio" in medical literature, which means "to maim, to chop off (mutilation) [15][16][17][18]. The term female circumcision should be avoided since it draws a parallel with male circumcision and, as a result, creates confusion between these two distinct practices [19][20][21][22].…”

Female Genital Mutilation: Impact on Knowledge, Attitude, Sexual Score Domains and Intention of Females in Northern Upper Egypt

“…In Egypt, although the prevalence of FGM/C among females aged 15-49 declined from 97% in 1985 to 87% in 2015, the prevalence remains high despite governmental efforts [7][8][9][10]. The prevalence of FGM/C among adolescent girls and women has dropped from 94% in 2008 to 88% in 2014 [10][11][12][13][14][15].…”