Title : Knowledge attitude and practice towards female genital mutilation among health care providers in Khartoum state, Sudan 2022
Abstract:
Background: FGM/C (female genital mutilation and cutting) is a dangerous traditional practice that has detrimental effects on girls' and women's health and wellbeing. Therefore, in order to ensure that persons impacted by the practice are protected, health care professionals (HCPs) are expected to be knowledgeable about how to recognize and treat these effects. get high-quality medical care. Additionally, they are able to play a significant role in the prevention of the practice thanks to their integration and validity within the communities. However, the HCPs' perspectives on FGM/C have not been studied in African contexts. By assessing the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of FGM/C among HCPs working in Khartoum and Khartoum Locality, this study aims to further this field of knowledge.
Method: This was a cross-sectional health facility-based study at four hospitals in two localities in Khartoum state in the period from October 2022 to December 2022. A multistage cluster sampling was applied, and a four-part questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic data, knowledge, attitude, and practice toward FGM was used. Two medical students and two house officers helped in collecting data from targeted populations (house officers, registrars, and consultants in obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, and anesthesia, as well as medical officers and health workers), which was analyzed using SPSS version 26 to find correlations between the various variables. Ethical clearance was obtained from the University of Khartoum Community Medicine Department.
Result: The study included 148 health care providers (115 female and 33 male). The response rate was 81.7%. the majority of whom were between the ages of 20 and 29. There is a significant relationship between age and years of experience and knowledge, and gender and attitude. The majority (46%), and those with more than 5 years of experience (23%), were registrars. They had a moderate level of knowledge (65%); the most common type is type 1 (Sunnah); 35%; the most common cause is deeply cultural; and the most common complication is the need for an episiotomy during labor. The attitude was good (86%), and the practice was very low (5%).Knowledge about the concept of medicalization is at 54%, 30% agree with it, and 18% believe it makes the practice safer.
Conclusion: Despite the positive attitude and low practice, the percentage of knowledge is relatively low. Because we live in a country where this practice is prevalent, we urgently need to train health care providers to deal with FGM complications and understand the concept of medicalization and its negative impact on female health.
Audience Take Away Notes:
- Exposure to the traditional and cultural Knowledge about female genital mutilation and its affect on girls' and women's wellbeing in a country with a high prevalence like Sudan
- study the knowledge of health care providers in dealing with FGM complications and their attitudes and practices toward it.
- Identify the concept of medicalization from the perspective of health care providers and its effect on procedures.
- Signify the importance of health education programs for the Sudanese community and training sessions for health care providers to learn how to deal with complications and their role in stopping this problem.
