INTENTION TOWARDS FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION AMONG WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE GROUP, USING BEHAVIORAL INTENTION APPROACH ATOTEHULO DISTRICT, HALABA ZONE, CENTRAL ETHIOPIA, 2024

Abstract

Introduction: female genital mutilation /cutting are a deeply rooted harmful traditional practice, affecting millions of girls and women globally which have serious physical and psychosocial consequences. Understanding the intentions and attitude towards Female genital mutilation among women of reproductive age is crucial however there is only limited research in Ethiopia to have comprehensive understanding of the problem. Therefore, this study was aimed to asses intention towards Female genital mutilation is highly valuable. Methods and materials: Embedded mixed study design was conducted among reproductive age group between April 1 and April 30, 2024. A total 497 women were selected for the quantitative data using a multi-stage sampling procedure. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire with Kobo collect application. Then, SPSS version 25 was used to clean, to code and analyze of the data. Variables that had a p-value of less than 0.25 in the bivariable logistic regression were selected as candidate variables for the multivariable logistic regression model, and a P value of less than 0.05 at a 95% confidence interval was considered statistically significant. Finlay, the findings were presented using tables, charts and graphs accordingly, for qualitative data, semi structured interview was used among 8 participants and thematic analysis was done by using ATLAS ti.version 24 software Result: - prevalence of intention towards the practice in this study was 54.1%. the odds of intention to continue were 2 times higher on women who had Favorable attitude than their counterparts (AOR= 2.4: 95% CI= 1.37-4.3: P=0.002), odds of Favorable subjective norm (AOR=4.91, 95%CI: 2.76-8.63, P=0.000)were about 5 times higher intend to continue than their counterparts also, Circumcision history of women (AOR=2.76, 95%CI=1.2-6.3, P=0.017) and Child with circumcision (AOR= 5.75, 95% CI= 2.2-14.7, P=0.000) were found to be significantly associated with intention. For qualitative part 3 themes were extracted from total respondents including, attitude, subjective norm and intention to continuation. Conclusion: According to this study 54.1 of the participant had intended to continue the practice. Attitude, subjective norm, child circumcision history, mother circumcision history as a child was associated with intention. For qualitative part. Participant’s attitude, Subjective norm and intention to continue were the themes extracted from analysis, which support our quantitative findings.