THE CURRENT SITUATION REGARDING AWARENESS ABOUT FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION AMONG MEN IN EGYPT

Background: Female genital mutilations are violation against the human rights of women. Men have an essential role to play in elimination of violence against women and prevention of FGM as they had essential role in decision regarding circumcision of their daughter Objective: to assess awareness among men regarding FGM and its practice regarding their daughters. Methods: : It was cross-section study . Men worked in seven governmental schools in Benha city were included whether married and unmarried. The sample size was calculated to be 296 males aged 20-60 years which was increased to 300. All participants were interviewed using pre-designed questionnaire to assess their awareness about different items related to FGM and practicing of circumcision to their daughters. Results & conclusion: The study showed that all participants heard about FGM .The majority of them had this practice in their families and 66.7% of them supported the practice. Also this study revealed that the main cause of practicing FGM is the tradition. The decision of practicing FGM is made mainly by fathers and 62% believed that no problems regarding uncircumcised women. About half of participants (49%) believed that men have role regarding FGM through participation in decision making process. Three quarter of participants had daughters and 63.7% from them had mutilated daughters. Nearly half of those had no daughters intended to circumcise their future daughters. So program for FGM prevention should including men in their disciplines as Men play important role in elimination of circumcision.