Gender Equity & Its Relation to Female Genital Mutilation in Rural Minia, Egypt

Objectives: To assess the predictors of FGM, to measure and relate Gender Equity Score (GES) to FGM future intentions. Methods: A cross-sectional community-based study. An interview administered questionnaire was used to explore knowledge and attitude of rural people, Minia and measure GES. A systematic random sample was taken from the village. 618 males and females were included in the period from September to October 2016. Results: FGM was performed on 76.6% of females. Complications occurred in 35.6% of circumcised females. Nearly 62% of respondents believed that this practice should be continued. FGM proponents were mostly men than women (57.0% vs. 40.2%). 76.2% of rural dwellers had low GES, 23.8% had medium or high GES. There was a significant relation between GES, supporting attitude towards FGM (p=0.0001), Knowledge that FGM is harmful (p=0.02) and future intention to undergo to their daughters (p=0.0001). Conclusion: The strong correlation between low GES, education, social pressure and intentions to carry out FGM to their daughters means that transmission of FGM will be perpetuated among future generations unless policies are formulated to break the vicious cycle of mother-daughter transmission, by educating and protecting girls and increasing importance of values as personal wellbeing and women empowerment.