Journal of Clinical & Experimental Pharmacology

Community based intervention: Impact of an educational program in exchanging knowledge, attitude and practices of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

11^th International Conference on Nursing and Immunopharmacology

November 20-21, 2017 Melbourne, Australia

Amal I Khalil and Abeer Mokhtar

Menoufia University, Egypt
King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, KSA
Cairo University, Egypt

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Clin Exp Pharmacol

Abstract:

Background: Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a form of gender-based violence and a violation of female human rights. Although much work has been done to tackle this practice in Egypt, the UNICEF (2016) reported that, prevalence remains high in Africa and the Middle East. Aim: The aim is to investigate the effectiveness of an educational program in exchanging knowledge, attitudes and practices of school teachers towards FGM. Methods: A quasi experimental research design (one group pre/post) assessment was used with 30 female teachers selected conveniently from Al-Tonsi Primary School mixed education (male and female) affiliated to Ministry of Art and Education, Cairo, Egypt. Results: 30 Egyptian teachers with mean age 36.93±8.42 and mean number of daughters was 1.47±0.0.73; majority of them were university graduates, grown up in urban areas and were married (80.0%, 73.3% and 86.6%, respectively). Most of the respondents, 86.7% were circumcised, 77% of them were circumcised by traditional birth attendants. The mean total score for knowledge about FGM was 11.7±2.0.0 in the pre-test compared to 27.4±1.3 in the post-test with a statistical significant difference (P<0.001). The mean total score for attitude toward FGM practices was 43.9±6.8 in the pre-test as compared to 26.5±1.6 in the post-test with a significant difference (P<0.001). About 20% of the respondents were willing to circumcise their daughters in the pre-test with a significantly higher prevalence among teachers who grew up in urban areas (66.7%) than in rural areas (P<0.001) as compared to 0.0% in the post-test. Significant correlations were found between the age of respondents and the total attitude score in the pretest (P=0.002), the number of daughters and the total attitude score in the pre-test and post-test were (P=0.03 and P=0.01, respectively). Conclusions & Recommendations: The educational program was effective in changing knowledge, attitudes and future practices of female teachers towards FGM. Therefore, addressing mothers through ongoing educational activities is still needed to increase their awareness regarding dangers of FGC practice and change their attitude towards its continuation.

Biography :

Amal I Khalil is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Mental Health Nursing at the Menoufia University, Egypt. Currently, he is working in King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, College of Nursing, Jeddah, where she was awarded many times for her teaching activities, community and social contributions. She was nominated as a Reviewer to the Journal of Horizon Research Publishing, Journal of Nursing and Health and International Journal of Nursing and Clinical Practices. She has also worked as a Psychotherapist at a private practice and has Membership in American Psychiatric Nurse Association, Family and Child Safety Program related to National Guard Health Affairs, Saudi Arabia and KAFA institution for Smoking and Addiction Management.