Impact of anti-female genital mutilation "FGM" intervention on attitude and self-efficacy of women and youth girls to abandon this practice

الملخص EN

Background and significance: The National Council for Childhood and Motherhood 'NCCM' launched an ‘Female Genital Mutilation "FGM" free village project’ in 2003 to eliminate FGM practice among girls in Egypt.

An interim evaluation survey completed by Population Council West Asia and North Africa office 'WANA' followed in 2006.

The complexity of FGM/C behavioural change and involvement of multiple players in decision making directs us to explore other dimensions of the decision-making process of individuals; namely perceived self-efficacy to abandon FGM.

Perceived self-efficacy is concerned with people’s beliefs in their capabilities to produce given attainments.

It has rarely been documented in relation to anti-FGM activities.

Objectives: To identify a change in attitude, self-efficacy, intention among adult women and youth girls following the project.

Using actual practice as agold standard, verifying these changes.

Methodology: Mid-term survey data of 'Moslem villages' was included in this analysis.

305 woman having a daughter between 7-13 years in 9 randomly selected intervention villages were compared with 203 woman in 6 control villages.

Also, 288 and 189 single girls 16-24 were successfully interviewed in the intervention and control sites respectively. Results: both adult women and young girls 16-24 in the intervention group showed significant differences in attitude, intention, and self-efficacy against FGM.

These changes are complex in interpretation when compared to behavior towards daughters.

The results will assist project managers in understanding 'readiness to change' of women and girls towards stopping Female Genital Mutilation / Cutting 'FGM / C.'