Knowledge, attitudes, and practice towards ‘female circumcision’ among high school students: In the case of Jigjiga city, Ethiopia

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of female adolescents towards ‘female circumcision’ (also known as genital cutting or mutilation) among Ethiopian Somali in regional state of Fafen zone using a case study of Jigjiga City High School students. To achieve this objective, descriptive research design of the survey type was done. The population consisted of female students. To run the study, 180 students from the aforementioned school were selected by using simple random sampling technique. The researcher had constructed as well as adopted instruments from Bogalech (2008). The collected data was analyzed through percentage and one sample t-test. The finding of the study depicted that almost all respondents have knowledge or awareness about female ‘circumcision’ but the majority of respondents disfavor this practice of female genital cutting. It is recommended that the government or concerned bodies should work with religious leaders and schools to reduce negative effects of the practice.

Key terms: knowledge, attitudes, practices, female circumcision, female genital mutilation (FGM), Ethiopia, students