Knowledge, Attitude And Practice Of Female Genital Mutilation And Associated Factors Among Women Of Child Bearing Age In Holeta Town, Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Female genital mutilation has been reported to occur in all parts of the world. It has no known health benefit. Assessing the Knowledge, attitudes and practice of female genital mutilation is a very important measure towards the movement of discharging this long-held tradition from society. Objectives: -The aim of this study was to assess knowledge, attitude, and practice of female genital mutilation and associated factors among women of childbearing age in Holeta town, Oromia region, Ethiopia, 2022. Methods and Materials: - A community-based cross-sectional study design was employed among 367 women of childbearing age (15-49) from January 22- 30, 2022 in Holeta Town. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select study participants. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire through face-to-face interviews. Data entry and cleaning were carried out by Epidata version 4.6.0.6 and transferred into SPSS version 21 for data analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate frequency/percentage, mean and medium. The results were presented using tables. In binary logistic regression analysis Variables with a P-value less than 0.25 was a candidate for multivariable logistic regression analysis then P-value less than 0.05 at 95% confidence interval was considered statistically significant. Result: - A total of 367 respondents participated in the study with a hundred percent response rate. In this study, 214 (58.3%) women had good knowledge about the health effect of female genital mutilation. About 199 (54.2%) of women had an unfavorable attitude toward female genital mutilation. According to this survey, 93 (25.3%) of women practiced female genital mutilation on their daughters. Those women who had more than two sources of information about female genital mutilation [AOR=3.179, 95% CI :( 2.007-5.033)] were more likely to have good knowledge of female genital mutilation compared to those women who had one source of information about female genital mutilation. The women's employment level as civil servants [AOR=0.203, 95% CI: (0.066- 0.621)] and Daily laborers [AOR=0.291, 95% CI: (0.11-0.771)] were less likely to have an unfavorable attitude towards female genital mutilation compared to farmers. Being merchants [(AOR=0.276, 95%CI (0.089-0.854)] were less likely to practice female genital mutilation as compared to farmers. Those women who got information from health professionals were [AOR=0.221, 95% CI :( 0.089-0.549)] less likely to practice female genital mutilation compared to those having information about female genital mutilation from their family. Conclusion and Recommendation: - Majority of women had good knowledge of the health effects of female genital mutilation. More than half of the women had an unfavorable attitude toward female genital mutilation. Female genital mutilation was practiced on one-fourth of the women‘s daughters. Occupational status, educational status, and source of information about female genital mutilation had a significant association with the practice of female genital mutilation. Since female genital mutilation is a violation of human rights, the town administration has to take strong legal measures.