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Prevalence and associated factors of Female genital mutilation among reproductive age women’s of Damot Gale woreda, Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study, 2018
Anjulo BB, Lambebo AF ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study measured the prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM) among 333 women of reproductive age in Damot Gale woreda, Ethiopia. Nearly 89% of women in the study area had undergone FGM, with clitoridectomy being the most common type. The research identified several factors associated with FGM: mothers' education, women's age, knowledge that FGM causes health problems, and support for tradition. Women whose mothers had more education and those aware of health risks were less likely to have undergone FGM, while those who supported tradition were significantly more likely to have been cut.
Key points
- 88.9% of 333 women surveyed had undergone FGM in the study area
- Clitoridectomy is the most common type of FGM practiced in Ethiopia
- Lower maternal education was associated with increased likelihood of FGM
- Knowledge that FGM causes health problems reduced the likelihood of FGM
- Strong support for tradition was the strongest predictor of FGM (14.6 times higher odds)
Limitations
This is a cross-sectional study measuring associations, not causation, so the direction of relationships cannot be definitively established. The study is limited to one woreda in Ethiopia and may not represent practices across the country or region.
Abstract
Background: Female genital mutilation (FGM) is estimated to have been practiced on at least 200 million girls and women in 30 countries around the world. Clitoridoctomy is the most common type of FGM in Ethiopia. Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the magnitude of Female Genital Mutilation and associated factors among women’s in Damot Gale Woreda of Wolayita zone. Methods: : A quantitative community-based cross-sectional study was used. Face-to-face interviews with prepared questionnaires were used to collect data. SPSS version 20 software was used to analyze the data. The prevalence of FGM was determined using descriptive statistics. The researchers utilized a bivariate and multivariate logistic regression model to find independent determinants of FGM. Result: 296 women were circumcised out of a total of 333, indicating that FGM is prevalent in the research area (88.9%). Mother education (AOR: 0.454, 95% CI: 0.209-0.984), age (AOR-1.86, 95% CI: 0.42-0.98)), knowledge that FGM causes health problems (AOR: 0.356, 95% CI: 0.145-0.877), and support for tradition (AOR: 14.595, 95% CI: 3.391-6.807) were all independently linked to FGM. Conclusion: Prevalence of FGM was associated with age, education, Knowledge of health problems and Tradition.