Ofori Michael Arthur, Bekalo Daniel Biftu, Mensah David Kwamena, Jha Niharika
School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, USA.
Pan African University Institute for Basic Sciences Technology and Innovation, Juja, Kenya.
J Health Popul Nutr. 2025 Jun 14;44(1):196. doi: 10.1186/s41043-025-00962-8.
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) also referred to as female genital cutting or female circumcision, has become a global health concern. It is a deeply entrenched traditional practice involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. To inform effective policymaking and raise awareness about FGM's health risks, understanding socioeconomic and demographic factors influencing the status of circumcision is crucial.
The study employed logistic regression and maximum likelihood models to examine the association between mothers' educational level and the circumcision status of under five girls in Ethiopia. The data used in this study was extracted from the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) report, which was conducted by the Central Statistical Agency (CSA).
The study found a strong association between mother's educational level and the risk of circumcision of under five girls. The girls whose mothers have no education or primary education have significantly higher odds of being circumcised with crude odds ratios of 7.69 (2.27-26.02) and 5.54 (1.64-18.65), respectively, compared to those whose mothers have secondary or higher education. Additionally, children whose mothers are Muslims (AOR: 1.98, 1.55-2.53), rural residence (AOR: 1.83, 1.21-2.78), and paternal education level (no education AOR: 2.03, 1.24-3.35) were also significant factors.
The results highlight the importance of maternal education, religious beliefs, and geographic location in influencing circumcision practices in Ethiopia. We recommend that more public education on the effect of FGM on the girl child will be enrolled especially in the rural communities in Ethiopia.
女性生殖器切割（FGM），也被称为女性生殖器切除或女性割礼，已成为全球卫生问题。它是一种根深蒂固的传统习俗，出于非医学原因部分或全部切除女性外生殖器。为了为有效的政策制定提供信息并提高对女性生殖器切割健康风险的认识，了解影响割礼状况的社会经济和人口因素至关重要。
该研究采用逻辑回归和最大似然模型来检验埃塞俄比亚五岁以下女童母亲的教育水平与割礼状况之间的关联。本研究使用的数据摘自中央统计局（CSA）进行的2016年埃塞俄比亚人口与健康调查（EDHS）报告。
研究发现母亲的教育水平与五岁以下女童的割礼风险之间存在密切关联。与母亲具有中等或更高教育水平的女童相比，母亲未受过教育或仅受过小学教育的女童接受割礼的几率显著更高，粗比值比分别为7.69（2.27 - 26.02）和5.54（1.64 - 18.65）。此外，母亲为穆斯林（调整后比值比：1.98，1.55 - 2.53）、居住在农村（调整后比值比：1.83，1.21 - 2.78）以及父亲的教育水平（未受过教育调整后比值比：2.03，1.24 - 3.35）也是重要因素。
结果凸显了母亲的教育、宗教信仰和地理位置在影响埃塞俄比亚割礼习俗方面的重要性。我们建议尤其在埃塞俄比亚的农村社区开展更多关于女性生殖器切割对女童影响的公众教育。
