Knowledge, attitudes and practices of female genital mutilation among health care workers in Somali region of Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a global challenge with estimated over two hundred million girls and women worldwide having undergone the procedure and another three million girls are at risk of being cut yearly. The prevalence of FGM among women and girls aged 15-49 years in Somali region of Ethiopia is 99% compared to the national average of 65%. The study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practice of health care workers on FGM practices in the region.Methods: The study was a cross-sectional descriptive survey and used quantitative method.Results: 36 (17.8%) of the health workers believed FGM was a mandatory religious practice, while 158 (78.2%) regarded it as a cultural practice. All the respondents knew it caused health problems, 32 (15.8%) believed it was a good practice though 176 (87.1%) of the respondents believed it violated human rights of the girls/women and 99 (49%) wanted the practice to continue. 15 (40.5%) had conducted FGM on a girl before, 5 (13.5%) claimed medicalization made FGM practice safer and 5 (13.5%) of the respondents intended to circumcise their daughters in future.Conclusions: Health care workers still have attitudes and practices that positively promote and could encourage FGM practices in spite of their knowledge of the health consequences and their acceptance as a violation of the rights of women and girls. This attitude has high tendencies of depriving the community members of access to accurate information that will enable them to make informed decision about FGM and efforts to eradicate the practice.

Key Factors, Drivers and Gatekeepers of Female Genital Mutilation in Ethiopia: A Meta-synthesis of National and Regional Studies

“…The study reported that Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region (SNNPR) region was the only region in which there was some involvement of medical personnel with 1 in 10 women who underwent FGM done by doctors, nurses, midwives, or other health professionals. However recent studies done in Afar and Somali regions indicated that some health workers even though they believe it's against human rights, supported and practiced medicalization of 'Sunnah cut' type 1 of circumcision because of their religious belief, and also because of their perception that it makes FGM safer compared to the traditional method by reducing the risk of infibulation and medical complications [25,26]. The studies reported that 20 per cent (Afar) and 55.5 per cent (Somali) healthcare providers from hospitals; 30 per cent (Afar), and 36 percent (Somali) of health care providers from health centres, admitted to having practiced FGM [25,26].…”

“…However recent studies done in Afar and Somali regions indicated that some health workers even though they believe it's against human rights, supported and practiced medicalization of 'Sunnah cut' type 1 of circumcision because of their religious belief, and also because of their perception that it makes FGM safer compared to the traditional method by reducing the risk of infibulation and medical complications [25,26]. The studies reported that 20 per cent (Afar) and 55.5 per cent (Somali) healthcare providers from hospitals; 30 per cent (Afar), and 36 percent (Somali) of health care providers from health centres, admitted to having practiced FGM [25,26]. These findings indicate that medicalizing the practice of the 'sunah' type is becoming increasingly common and a way of encouraging the practice of FGM to continue in most part of Ethiopia like Afar and Somali regions of Ethiopia.…”

“…They have been engaged in providing appropriate information and community awareness about the impacts of FGM which brought about tangible change in the community. However, some of them still have attitudes and practices that positively promote and could encourage Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) practices, including the medicalization of FGM despite their knowledge of the health consequences and their acceptance as a violation of the rights of women and girls [14,25,26]. This has resulted in a wrong message to the communities that FGM practice is acceptable if done by a health professional and in the hospital facility.…”

“…This has resulted in a wrong message to the communities that FGM practice is acceptable if done by a health professional and in the hospital facility. This has high tendency of depriving the community members of access to accurate information that will enable them to make informed decisions about FGM and efforts to eradicate the practice [25,26].…”

Legal Awareness and Practices of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) among United Arab Emirates Medical Practitioners

“…Many countries have ratified and deposited the Maputo Protocol, which promotes women’s rights, including an end to FGM/C [ 18 ]. A majority of respondents in the cited studies agreed with the view that the FGM/C procedure violates human rights [ 19 ]. This applies both to the self-determination of one’s own body and to the woman’s right to experience pleasure, which she is deprived of by removing the clitoris.…”