Effect of an Educational Program on Mothers’ Knowledge and Attitudes about Female Genital Mutilation at Tanta City

Abstract

Background: Female Genital Mutilation or Cutting (FGM/C) is a worldwide problem. Egypt has the world's highest total number with 27.2 million women having undergone FGM. Health education has proven to decrease the willingness to circumcise future daughters. Aim of the study: to evaluate the effect of an educational program on mothers’ knowledge and attitudes about female genital mutilation at Tanta city. Materials and method: A Quasi experimental research design was utilized. The study was carried out in maternal and child health care centers in Tanta City, affiliated to the ministry of health. Sample: A purposive sample of 85 mothers who had at least one daughter at age 5-11 years who attended the previous settings included in the study. Three tools were used in this study to collect data Tool (I): Structured interview sheet to collect socio-demographic characteristic, Tool II: Questionnaire interview sheet to collect knowledge of mother related to female genital mutilation, Tool III: Structured interview schedule was developed by the researcher for measuring Attitude of mothers towards female genital mutilation. The program was evaluated 3 times during the study period; before the program, immediate, and three months post program. Results: the results of this study showed that before the implementation of the educational program about female genital mutilation studied sample had low scores of knowledge and attitude. After implementation of the program there was a significant improvement in the total knowledge and attitude score of the studied sample. .