Introduction: Child marriage mainly affects girls living in poorer rural areas and is on the rise in some locations, including Upper Egypt.The aim was to evaluate the effect of the primary prevention program of health consequences for early marriage among female adolescent students and conducted at two schools representing in a rural area in El-khosos district, El Qalubia Governorate.A quasi experimental design and a purposive sampling of 137 female students were at three grades of the selected schools.One tool was used for data collection were a self-administered questionnaire including socio demographic characteristics of students, students' knowledge related to early marriage health consequences, Perception of students toward adverse bio-psycho-social health consequences of early marriage and its' preventive procedures, assess female students' practices related to personal hygiene, nutrition and physical exercises during menstruation.Results: The study was concluded that the majority of students had unsatisfactory knowledge regarding early marriage health consequences preprogram while in post program more than two thirds of them had satisfactory knowledge with a highly statistically significant difference between their knowledge, healthy practices pattern and perception between pre and post primary prevention program implementation.Conclusion: Primary prevention program reported a remarkable improvement in female students' knowledge, perception and health practices toward early marriage health consequences.Recommendations the study recommended that applying for health education programs among students in different educational settings focusing on early marriage health consequences with an implementation of practical training courses.
Hemat Abd El Moneem Elsayied, Omaima Mohamed Esmat, Hala Mohamed Mohamed Hussein
Background: Composite well-being indicators are typically built by aggregating dimension scores with subjectively elicited or transferred weights, computed on raw sample means without formal reliability checks. Methods: We propose the Reliability-Weighted, Empirical-Bayes-Shrunk Composite (RWEB-CWBI), which shrinks each dimension’s group-level mean via the dimension-specific DerSimonian–Laird random-effects models, derives aggregation weights from a group-level principal component analysis of the shrunk dimension matrix, and rescales each loading by its empirical area-level reliability ratio (RR), automatically reducing the influence of dimensions with lower estimated reliability, and thus providing an alternative to automatic exclusion. RWEB-CWBI is applied within a broader Child Well-Being Index (CWBI) framework, building on participatory CWBI1-CWBI5 specifications estimated on a 10-governorate Takaful-beneficiary sample (n = 8716 households; the 2016 UNICEF sample), and evaluated alongside data-driven weighting, empirical Bayes shrinkage, and machine-learning benchmarking on an independent, nationally representative sample (EFHS-2021; n = 49,936 children, 26 governorates). Results: Participatory CWBI4 and CWBI5 showed the strongest alignment with the available subjective well-being measures. RWEB-CWBI down-weighted the least reliable EFHS dimension (RR = 0.75) automatically, while preserving close agreement with the simpler indices’ governorate rankings (ρ = 0.988–0.989). Gradient boosting improved cross-validated R2 over OLS by 2.5 points (0.798 vs. 0.773), with urban residence dominating permutation importance. The EFHS-UNICEF ranking correlation stayed weak and non-significant under every specification, including RWEB-CWBI (ρ = 0.14–0.19, n = 10, p ≥ 0.60). Conclusion: RWEB-CWBI is presented as a statistically motivated methodological proposal for handling heterogeneous dimension-level precision and availability. The persistence of the weak EFHS-UNICEF correlation across conventional, data-driven, and reliability-weighted specifications indicates that the finding is robust to the choice of weighting method, although contributions from population differences, measurement differences, and survey-design differences cannot be distinguished conclusively.
BACKGROUND: Early childhood development (ECD) is a critical foundation for health, learning, and social well-being. In Egypt, many children suffer from developmental delays, particularly in rural areas where early nurturing care is neglected. AIM: This study evaluated the effectiveness of a community-based intervention, based on the framework of WHO/UNICEF Care for Early Child Development, in improving caregiving practices and developmental outcomes among children under six years in a rural Egyptian district. METHODS: A quasi-experimental longitudinal study with a post-test-only control group was implemented in one intervention and one control village. The intervention involved structured caregiver education, skill-building sessions, and continuous home-based support delivered by trained community health workers. Family Care Indicators (FCIs) from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys and child development assessments using the Denver II Screening Tool were applied to evaluate progress. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS v24. Descriptive comparisons used Chi-square and paired t-tests. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to control for potential confounders and to identify independent predictors of positive family care and developmental outcomes. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated, with significance set at p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: Adjusted regression analyses showed significant associations between intervention participation and improved outcomes across all domains. Families in the intervention village had higher odds of Availability of ≥ 3 children's books (AOR = 3.41, 95% CI 1.87-6.24), and engaging in ≥ 4 caregiver-child interactive activities (AOR = 3.22, 95% CI 1.97-5.25). Children carried more odds to attend preschool (AOR = 3.76, 95% CI 2.01-7.02) and demonstrate normal fine-motor (AOR = 3.18, 95% CI 1.92-5.26), language (AOR = 2.64, 95% CI 1.63-4.27), gross-motor (AOR = 2.93, 95% CI 1.75-4.91), and personal-social development (AOR = 3.83, 95% CI 2.07-7.09), (all p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Participation in the community-based program was positively associated with improved nurturing-care practices and developmental performance after controlling for key sociodemographic factors. The findings suggest that integrating similar caregiver training and early stimulation programs into national child health strategies may help promote equitable early childhood development.
Ammal Mokhtar Metwally, Ebtissam M. Salah El-Din, Marwa W. Abouelnaga et al.
This study was aimed to provide a foundation for the role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Early Childhood Development (ECD) through identifying and examining the role of Educate Me Foundation in Giza Governorate as NGO working the field of ECD in Egypt. Additionally, the study aimed to investigate the relationship between NGOs and the Ministry of Education of Egypt (MoE), and explore the challenges that face the NGOs during their implementing their work in the area of ECD. The researcher adopted the exploratory research design. Where the researcher presented the literature review related to the same filed to identify the role of the NGOs in the ECD in different regions, also the researcher used the government reports. The paper is divided into four main parts. The first part presents the introduction of the role of NGOs in ECD, and the importance of the paper, while the second part examines the literature on the role of NGOs in ECD, the challenges and the relationship with governmental bodies from a global perspective. The third part contains an analysis with a reflection on the Educate Me foundation. Finally, the fourth part contains the findings and conclusion alongside policy recommendations for the solution of the problem. The findings of the research show that Educate Me foundation had a significant role in the ECD in the Giza Governorate, they achieved their progress with the limited financial resources and unstable relationship with MoE due to the regulations and bureaucracy. The research recommended that NGOs should develop open income-generating projects and self-financing instead of an external one. Besides seeking to change the culture of the MoE and its vision towards the existence of these organizations through seminars and conferences organized by NGOs in cooperation with government sector institutions.
The purpose of the study. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the problem-based learning approach on the educational outcomes of the Primary School long jump students. Materials and methods. This investigation employed a pre-experimental design experimental methodology. 37 children represented the study's population. With an average group size of 37 students, the study's sampling strategy was saturated sampling. The pretest, treatment, and posttest phases are used in data collection. The long jump test column is the tool utilized. Data analysis with the effect test (ttest). Results. The long jump capacity findings with the problem-based learning model with tcount=8.99>ttable=1.99 were calculated based on the data obtained. These results show that ha is accepted and ho is rejected, indicating a rise, when the difference between the pretest mean value of 51.85 and the posttest mean value of 66.36 is bigger, with a difference of 14.51 numbers if the difference is 28%. Conclusions. Students' psychomotor abilities are improved by the model problem-based learning because it allows students to concentrate on problem-solving as they are aware of the learning process's trouble spots right away.
PURPOSE: The overall goal of the Saleema Initiative in Sudan is to promote long-term abandonment of female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM) through a contribution to changing social norms, attitudes, and intentions related to the practice. The initiative aims to create positive cultural associations with a girl remaining uncut, a new social norm. Saleema hypothesizes that branding the alternative to FGM (abandonment) will promote social norms change. In 2014, the lead author designed a monitoring and evaluation framework for Saleema in partnership with UNICEF, the National Council for Child Welfare (NCCW), and local organizations. METHODS: The Saleema evaluation aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the campaign in reducing pro-FGM social norms. A quasi-experimental design controlled for dosage of campaign messages delivered across the 18 states in Sudan to measure a dose-response effect. We operationalized social norms through a 4-item scale validated in previous research. RESULTS: This paper reports on quantitative evaluation findings based on data gathered in from 2015-2017 and focuses on the dose-response relationship between Saleema exposure and changes in FGM social norms. We found that self-reported exposure was associated with reduced pro-FGM social norms (coeff. = -0.329, p < .001). Additionally, higher doses of Saleema, measured through an exogenous measure of campaign event exposure from an independent monitoring system was associated with reduced pro-FGM social norms (coeff. = -0.146, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Saleema was effective in reducing pro-FGM social norms. It is a promising strategy and findings contribute to the growing literature on social norms approaches to behavior change.
William Douglas Evans, Cody Donahue, Jeremy Williams Snider et al.
BACKGROUND: Women with female genital mutilation/cutting are known to have psychological sequelae from the cutting and other traumatic experiences. However, very few studies report immediate psychological sequelae of genital reconstructive surgery in this population. The present case is the first to our knowledge to report post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms immediately following defibulation, a procedure common in women with female genital mutilation/cutting type III. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 31-year-old Sudanese nulliparous woman in the second trimester of pregnancy with female genital mutilation/cutting type IIIa who was referred for antepartum defibulation to facilitate a vaginal birth. Immediately after an uncomplicated surgery under local anesthesia and just before the first micturition, she developed post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and suddenly recalled the traumatic experience of her first micturition after female genital mutilation/cutting when she was a child in Sudan. The woman was offered psychiatric follow-up with psychotherapy for 4 months and a short course of benzodiazepines. She had fully recovered by the time of delivery, 4 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: We discuss the possibility of recall of a past traumatic experience of female genital mutilation/cutting during defibulation or other genital surgeries. We review the benefits and risks of defibulation, the impact of this procedure, and the setting and timing in which it is performed, focusing on women's mental health and psychological support.
Gianmarco Taraschi, Emily Manin, Francesco Bianchi De Micheli et al.
Background: Female genital mutilation/cutting are procedures in which young girls' and women's external genital organs are manipulated, altered, or removed. Female genital mutilation is considered to be a kind of gender discrimination against women and girls. Aim: The present study was carried find out about FGM in Beni-Suef Governorate. Design: Descriptive Cross-sectional study. Setting: Family Health Centers (FHCs) in different Governorates at Beni-Suef. Sample: Convenient sample. Tools: pre-designed structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The questionnaire is divided into six sections: (I): Socio-demographic and personal data. (II): Knowledge of females regarding FGM/C. (III): Attitudes of females regarding FGM/C. (IV): Intention to practice FGM/C. (V): Reasons for practicing FGM/C and reasons for refusing FGM. (VI): Female Sexual Function Index (FSDI). Results: The prevalence of FGM/C was 71.4%. Only 25.7% of females had good knowledge about FGM/C; 35.5% had an unfavorable attitude towards supporting FGM/C. About 29.7% of participants in the current study are suffering from complications after FGM. There was a significantly higher Desire, Arousal, Lubrication, orgasm, Satisfaction domain, and Total score among not circumcised married participants than circumcised ones. However, the Pain domain didn't differ significantly between circumcised and not circumcised. Conclusion: the prevalence of FGM/C is still higher despite the health consequences of the procedure. There was a significant association between rural residence, lower mother and father education, marriage, and the presence of circumcision. Recommendation: Continuous educational programs for mothers and health care providers about FGM are required to increase their awareness.
Fatima Hosny Abd-ELhakam, Rasha El –Sayed Ibrahim, Momen Zakaria Mohamed et al.
Background: Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a procedure that had physical, sexual, psychological and social consequences on women and girls. Aim: To assess the effect of female genital mutilation on post marital female sexual function. Design: A descriptive case control study to compare between mutilated and non-mutilated women. Setting: The study was conducted at three maternal and child healthcare centers in different areas in Fayoum governorate (El-Hadaka, EL-Sad El Aly and El-Keman). Sample: A purposive sample of 100 women. Tools: Three tools were used for data collection: Tool I (A Structured interviewing questionnaire), Tool II (Standardized Female Sexual Function Index Questionnaire) and Tool III (Attitude Likert Rating Scale). Result: The current study showed that most (84%) of the studied mutilated women suffer from sexual dysfunction and only one fifth (20%) of the studied non-mutilated women had sexual dysfunction. Additionally, more than three fifths (64%) of the studied mutilated women had negative attitude regarding FGM while, the majority (90%) of the studied non-mutilated women had negative attitude toward the practice. Conclusion: The study concluded that female genital mutilation was found to have a significantly negative impact on women's sexual function after marriage. Recommendation: Implementing an educational program to raise awareness among women, families and communities about the negative effects of female genital mutilation on women's sexual and psychological health
Gehad Ahmed Mabrouk, Amal Sarhan El-desokey, Asmaa Mohamed Ahmed et al.
BACKGROUND: Female genital cutting, also termed female genital mutilation (FGM), is a damaging practice with no health benefits for girls or women, and is considered to be a violation of children's rights. METHODS: A cross-sectional, community-based study using interview administered questionnaire to explore knowledge and attitude of people living in a rural area in Minia. Systematic random sampling was used to interview 618 males and females above the age of 18 in the period from September to November 2016. RESULTS: FGM was performed on 76.6% of females, complications occurred in 35.6% of them. Females demonstrated a higher level of knowledge than males. Nearly 56% of respondents believed that this practice should continue. Females were more supportive of the continuation of FGM than men (60.3% vs. 47.9%). The attitude that FGM is a good practice, knowledge level, women's status and religion were significantly associated with women's willingness to subject their daughters to FGM in the future. Attitude was the only significant predictor associated with men's willingness to subject their daughters to FGM. CONCLUSION: The strong correlation between social pressure and intentions to carry out FGM means that FGM practice will continue to be embraced among future generations unless policies are put in place to eradicate this practice through empowering females by education and reasonable income.
Eman Sameh Mohammed, Amany Edward Seedhom, Eman Mohammed Mahfouz
