Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #105985

Dominique Meekers, PhD and Chiho Suzuki, MPH. International Health and Development, Tulane University, 1440 Canal St. Suite 2200, New Orleans, LA 70112, 504-585-6157, dmeekers@tulane.edu

Objectives: Despite efforts to discourage female genital circumcision (FGC), many Egyptian women support FGC. We identify determinants of women's support for FGC. Data and Methods: We analyze the 2000 Egypt Demographic and Health Survey (N= 15,573 ever-married women). Using logistic regression, we examine the determinants of women's belief that FGC should be discontinued and women's intention to circumcise their daughters. Results: Women exposed to two or more FGC media messages are twice as likely as unexposed women to support discontinuing FGC (OR=2.07;p<.05). Believing that FGC can lead to complications or death increase women's desire to discontinue FGC (OR=2.9;p<.01). Believing that men want FGC discontinued also increase women's desire to have FGC discontinued (OR=19.6;p<.01). Similarly, women's intention to circumcise their daughters reduces with exposure to FGC media messages. Women exposed to two or more messages are less likely than unexposed women to plan to circumcise their daughters (OR=.58;p<.01). Believing that FGC can lead to complications/death lowers women's intention to circumcise their daughters (OR=.48;p<.01), as does believing that men want to have FGC discontinued (OR=.12;p<.01). However, believing that husbands prefer circumcised women increases women's intention to circumcise their daughters (OR=3.23;p<.01). Conclusions: Recent FGC media campaigns have helped reduce women's support for FGC. However, women's attitudes toward FGC have a strong net effect on their support for FGC. Future FGC media campaigns should aim to highlight the health risks of FGC. Since women appear concerned about what men want, such campaigns should also target men.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participants will be able to

(
• Discuss the relative importance of various factors that influence women’s support for FGC, and (
• Recognize that FGC media campaigns can affect women’s support for FGC.

Keywords: Female Genital Mutilation,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation