Factors associated with the condoning of female genital mutilation among university students

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is practiced in Egypt, despite its recent b an, generally in rural and uneducated communities, under unsanitary conditi ons and by non-medical personnel. Immediate and long-term complications are frequent. The aim of this study was to gain insight into what beliefs or k nowledge are conducive to supporting FGM. One thousand and seventy universi ty students in Cairo, Egypt were randomly selected. A 32-item questionnaire was used to interview students regarding their knowledge and attitudes tow ard FGM. Multivariable analyses were performed to find factors associated w ith being against the abolishment of FGM. The response rate was 95% (n = 1020). Twenty-eight percent of the students support FGM. The most significant factors associated with the condoning of FGM were believing FGM has a religious basis (OR = 2.53), disagreeing that FGM is a custom with no other basis (OR = 2.59), not believing it is harmfu l (OR = 4.11), and ignoring that it is usually followed by complications (O R = 5.14). Even in an educated population, a considerable amount of ignorance concerni ng FGM exists. Widespread education about FGM is important to dispel the my ths that surround its practice and to bring the practice to an end.