Abstract

Background: Above one hundred million girls and women worldwide have undergone the practice of female genital mutilation and more than three million girls mainly in Africa are estimated to be circumcised each year. In Ethiopia, the prevalence rate is 74% in women of reproductive age group (15-49 years).

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess knowledge, attitude and practice of the community towards female genital mutilation in Agarfa town, southeast Ethiopia.

Methods: A Community based cross-sectional house to house interviews on knowledge, attitude and practice of the community on female genital mutilation was conducted among 272 respondents in Agarfa town, Bale zone, Oromia, Southeast Ethiopia from May 01-05, 2013. Systematic sampling method was used to identify the respondents and data were collected using structured questionnaire on different aspects of FGM. The data were organized in percentage and frequency, and presented in table and graph.

Result: In this study around 86.1% of females were circumcised. Female genital mutilation was reported to be known by 93% of the participants and as to the attitude of the community towards the practice, 81.6% of the participants rejects its continuation. From these males and females were 82.4% and 81.6%, respectively. One fourths of them stated that FGM is currently being practiced in their village. About twenty percent were sure that there is no female circumcision currently. Majority reported that traditional circumcisers (83.3%) are the main operator of the practice. The main reasons for the practice were to respect culture (75.3%) and for religion (15.6%).

Conclusion and recommendation: The prevalence of Female genital mutilation was high. The study participants had good knowledge and negative attitude towards the practice of FGM. Majority of them had high degree of awareness about the complications of the practice. The main circumcisers were found to be traditional circumcisers. Thus, an effort should be made to change the knowledge, attitude and practice of traditional circumcisers by participating the community as whole.

Keywords: Female genital mutilation; Attitude; Knowledge