Knowledge, attitude, and practice relates to female genital mutilation and its types in Jijiga town of Somali Regional State of Ethiopia

Abstract

Objectives: is to assess knowledge, attitude and practice, towards FGM, and its type among women in a reproductive age group. Method: community bases cross was conducted in jijiga town, Somali region, Eastern Ethiopia from February 10 – March 20/2007. Systematic sampling methods was used to identify the study study subjects and data was collected using pre-testrd structured questionnaire on various asrious aspects of FGM and data was organized in percentage and presented in table. Result: the prevalence of FGM among women aged 15-49 years age in the study area was found to be 94.5%, where infibulations (pharonic) is the commonest type of FGM practiced (83.4%), while Sunni and clitoridectomy were reported by small proportion of study subject (13.6%) and (3.0%) respectively. The majority of study subjects have “Good knowledge” about FGM and as to attitude of the women toward the FGM the study recealed that 56.7% of the respondents had responded in suitable manner toward FGM (i.e shows – negative attitude toward the FGM practice). 53 – 55.1% of women were rejecting the maintenance of the practice 43.9% want to maintain the practice in less severe or severe form. Conelusion: female genital mutilation is practiced by the majority of women interviewed in the study area with different form. The study indicated that study subjects hope to decrease high risk of developing complications merely by changing to mildest form of FGM (sunni). There is obvious gap between knowledge of negative effects of the practice and positive attitude towards the practice to continue. Hence, wide information, education and communication is recommended.