Effectiveness of Structured Information, Education and Communication about Female Genital Cutting Towards Knowledge of Mothers-Alshegla-Omdurman City-Khartoum State 2015

Abstract

Abstract Background: Female genital cutting (FGC) comprises all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury» to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. It represents a fundamental violation of women’s and girls’ rights. Objective: The overall objective was to investigate the effectiveness of structured information, education and communication about female genital cutting towards knowledge of mothers with girls aged (less thanl0) years old. Methods: Community-based interventional study was conducted fi"om December 2012 to December 20_15 at Alshegla in Omdurman City, Khartoum State. The estimated _sample size mounted to 291partieipants divided to two gr0ups;l46 participants (interventional group) and 145 participants (control group). The sample clusters were selected using

simple random and all households in the selected clusters were included(single-stage cluster sampling). A pre-tested standardized administered questionnaire was developed and used for data collection pre and post health education sessions. The collected data were analyzed using the computer statistical package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Results: One third of both participants “groups”; intervention group(37.7%) and control group (35.9%) were in age group (26 to 35) years. The results showed that the vast majority of intervention group participants had knowledge about the meaning of Female Genital Cutting. Their percentages were (89.7%) in pretest measurement and (95.90%) at posttest measurement. The control group participants who had knowledge were (92.5%) in pretest and (84.9%) in posttest. Most of the participants76.00%in the intervention group in the pre test measurement were able to identify that Female Genital Cutting is against Human Rights. This percentage increased to (89.70%) in posttest measurement. However, those participants were unable to identify the components of human rights of women; (64.7%) of participants in pretest measurement and it decreased to (29.8%)in posttest measurement,(P=0/01). There was slight change in the control group. Only (26.7) of intervention group participants had good knowledge about female genital cutting types in the pretest measurementincreased to (64.30)in the post test measurement G’ value =0.00)andalso the participant in control group had lowest level of knowledge with no change (26.7%) pre-test measurement and (26%)

post-test measurement. More than half of participants in the both measures were know the female genital cutting is prevailing due to social reason (P value =0.45). The vast majority of the intervention group knew that the female genital cutting had adverse consequences on women health (87, 9%) in pre-test measurement increased to (100%) At Post Measurement (P value =0.00) for participant in control group also knew (84.9%) in pretest measurement and (82.9%)in post- test measurement. . Conclusion: The knowledge about meaning of female genital cutting and its adverse consequence on women health is good and it is augmented by informative education and communication (IEC) activities. Knowledge about human rights of women then improved afier IEC activities. The female genital cutting is prevailing by the social reason furtherance of intervention activities may eliminate this practice.