Attitudes towards female genital mutilation among Sudanese men and women living in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Objective: To assess the attitudes of Sudanese men and women who live in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, towards female genital mutilation (FGM). Materials and Methods: A self-administered anonymous questionnaire was given to Sudanese men and women living in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and attended the out-patients clinics of King Abdulaziz University Hospital to survey their attitudes towards FGM. Results: From March 2014 through February 2015, 580 Sudanese men and women were approached about participating in the study. Of these, 518 (89%) [252 (48.6%) men and 266 (51.4%) women] with a mean age of 39.76 years completed the questionnaire. The mean length of stay in Saudi Arabia was 16.55±10.9 years and 179 (67.3%) women had FGM and 87 (32.7%) did not. Respondents were asked their opinion of FGM: 344 (66.4%) said they were against it, 132 (25.5%) said they were for it, 9 (1.7%) said they did not know, and 33 (6.4%) did not answer. When asked if FGM is a religious practice, 328 (63.3%) said no, 110 (21.2%) said yes, 63 (12.2%) said they did no know, and 17 (3.3%) did not answer. When asked if living in Saudi Arabia changed their views on FGM, 282 (54.4%) said yes, 202 (39%) said no, 19 (3.7%) did not know, and 15 (2.9%) did not answer. Conclusions: Community-led strategies to abandon FGM may help empower men and women to change their attitudes and critically examine their traditions.