Female genital mutilation: prevalence, perceptions and effect on women’s health in Kersa district of Ethiopia

Figures & data

Table 1 Sociodemographic characteristics of women interviewed in Kersa district, East Hararge, Oromia region Ethiopia, January 2008, n = 858. (Totals vary from 805 to 858 due to missing values)

Variables	Frequency	Percentage
Age
15–19	39	4.8
20–24	113	14.0
25–29	153	19.0
30–34	154	19.1
35–39	131	16.3
40–44	100	12.4
45–49	35	4.3
50+	80	9.9
Total	805	100
Religion
Muslim	811	95.2
Orthodox	34	4.0
Protestant	7	0.8
Total	852	100.0
Educational level
Cannot read/write	723	84.3
Can read and write	52	6.1
Primary (1–8 grade)	49	5.7
Secondary (9–12)	22	2.6
Tertiary (12+)	12	1.4
Total	858	100.0
Marital status
Single	31	3.6
Married	761	89.4
Divorced	10	1.2
Widowed	49	5.8
Total	851	100.0
Occupational status/employment
House wife	800	95.6
Government/NGO	7	0.8
Student	2	0.2
Street vendor	15	1.8
Farmer	19	2.2
Other	3	0.4
Total	846	100.0
Ethnicity
Oromo	821	95.7
Amhara	36	4.2
Gurage	1	0.1
Total	858	100.0

Abbreviation: NGO, nongovernment organization.

Table 2 Types of FGM being practiced in Kersa district, East Hrarge, Oromia region Ethiopia, in February 2008 according to women interviewed and who knew about this practice n = 327. Women could cite several types of cutting (percentage calculated below from the total number of types given)

Type of genital cutting	n	Percent
Clitoris only	258	78.9
Clitoris, labia	115	35.2
Clitoris, labia, and surrounding part	77	23.5
Clitoris, labia, surrounding part and stitching	34	10.4
Other forms	4	1.2
Total	488

Table 3 Distribution of perceived reasons to practice female genital mutilation in Kersa District, East Hararge, Oromia region, Ethiopia, February 2008, n = 325 (data for two women missing)

Variable	Frequency	Percentage
Reasons for FGM practices
To reduce female hyperactivity in sexual practice	196	60.3
To prevent females from early initiation of sex before marriage	82	25.1
To prevent females from unprotected sex	1	0.3
Don’t know	31	9.5
Other	15	4.6
Total	325	100.0

Abbreviation: FGM, female genital mutilation.

Table 4 Feelings of 327 women seeing serious infection, health-related problems, and attempted solutions following genital mutilation performed on others in Kersa district, East Hararge, Oromia region, Ethiopia, February 2008

Variables	Frequency	Percentage
Feelings of women after seeing serious infection following circumcision
I was frightened	205	62.7
I thought it was normal	58	17.8
I was in sympathy	51	15.8
No response	13	3.7
Total	327	100.0
Attempted solutions to reproductive health problems so far after FGM
I went for medical support	42	12.8
Consulted traditional healer	42	12.8
Other/specify	28	8.6
Did nothing	215	65.7
Total	327	100.0
Females who have observed these problems after FGM
Excessive bleeding
Yes	144	44.0
No	183	56.0
Total	327	100.0
Signs of sepsis
Yes	100	30.6
No	227	69.4
Total	327	100.0

Abbreviation: FGM, female genital mutilation.

Table 5 Knowledge of women about problems associated with female genital mutilation of other persons and of themselves in Kersa district, East Hararge, Oromia region, Ethiopia, February 2008

	Frequency	Percentage
Knowledge of problems associated with FGM among 327 women reported by the respondents; more than one response was allowed; percentages below calculated from the total number of responses given, n = 348
During sexual intercourse
Yes	23	7.0
During menstrual flow
Yes	5	1.5
During delivery
Yes	74	22.6
Psychological problems
Yes	21	6.4
Don’t know of any associated problem
Yes	225	68.8
Total n = 348
Ever experienced problems associated with FGM themselves (n = 792); more than one response was allowed; the percentages below calculated from the total number of responses given, n = 958
Pain during sexual intercourse
Yes	128	16.2
During first sexual intercourse
Yes	242	30.6
Sexual dissatisfaction
Yes	128	16.2
During delivery
Yes	327	41.3
Infection
Yes	116	14.6
Other problems
Yes	17	2.1
Total n = 958

Abbreviation: FGM, female genital mutilation.

Table 6 Women’s behavior and attitudes to stopping FGM and reasons not to stop the practice in Kersa district, East Hararge, Oromia region, Ethiopia, February 2008. All 858 participants were asked general questions about FGM practices

Variables	Frequency	Percentage
Attempted to stop FGM practices
Yes	199	23.2
No	658	76.7
No answer	1	0.1
Total	858	100.0
Reasons given not to stop FGM practices, n = 521, missing values n = 337
I agree with the practice	124	23.8
To stop is going against the norm	154	29.6
Have no answer	217	41.7
Other	26	4.9
Total	521	100.0

Abbreviation: FGM, female genital mutilation.