Wrong Perceptions Towards Health Consequences of Female Genital Mutilation and Associated Factors Among Women in Adama District, Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Wrong perceptions towards health consequences of female genital mutilation among women can contribute to the continuation of this harmful practice. So this study was aimed at determining the prevalence of wrong perception towards health consequences of female genital mutilation and associated factors among women at Adama District.Objectives: to determine the prevalence of wrong perceptions towards health consequences of female genital mutilation and associated factors among women in Adama District from October 15 to 20, 2019.Method: Community based cross sectional study design and stratified sampling techniques were used. Semi structured interviewer administered questionnaire translated to Amharic and Afan Oromo was used. A pretest of 10% was done on women at non-selected kebeles. Data were planned to be collected from a sample of 554 women by 4 female health extension workers. Its completeness was checked daily by supervisor and principal investigator. Data entered to Epi info version 7 were exported to SPSS version 20 for cleaning, recoding and analysis. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression was employed with 95% CI and p-value <0.25. Multi co- linearity was checked with variance inflation factor >10 and multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the association between wrong perception towards health consequences of female genital mutilation among women and associated factors with 95% CI, p-value <0.05. Result: the response rate, median age and inter quartile range were 91.52%, 30 years and 18 years respectively. About 31% (95% CI: 27, 35.5) of women had wrong perceptions towards health consequences of female genital mutilation. Rural residence (AOR= 1.76; 95% CI: 1.03, 3.01), not having any maternal care service (AOR= 2.61, 95% CI: 1.45, 4.69), no mass media exposure (AOR=2.79, 95%CI: 1.23, 6.32) and age at circumcision >11 years (AOR=0.39, 95% CI: 0.19, 0.80) were statistically significant variables associated with wrong perception towards health consequences of female genital mutilations.Conclusion and recommendation: 31% of women had wrong perceptions towards health consequences of female genital mutilation. Rural residence, no mass media exposure, having no maternal care service and age at circumcision >11 years were significant variables. Increased maternal care service and health education were recommended to improve women’s wrong perceptions towards health consequences of female genital mutilation.

Determinants of Female Genital Mutilation Among Under Five-Year Children in Motta Town, Northwest Ethiopia, 2022: Unmatched Case Control Study

“…Those mothers who had maternal care services can have a chance to access health education about the impacts of the practice and have a chance to observe posters and magazines related to the impacts of female genital mutilation. 33…”