Table 3 Factors affecting practice and medicalization of FGM

Place of residence

Urban

868 (45.4)

1046 (54.6)***

261 (84.7)

47 (15.3)*

Rural

1897 (75.8)

604 (24.2)

435 (78.2)

121 (21.8)

Region

Urban governorates

238 (36.5)

414 (63.5)***

51 (83.6)

10 (16.4)**

Lower Egypt Urban

152 (34.1)

294 (65.9)

30 (93.8)

2 (6.3)

Lower Egypt Rural

646 (67.4)

312 (32.6)

127 (86.4)

20 (13.6)

Upper Egypt Urban

361 (63.1)

211 (36.9)

144 (84.7)

26 (15.3)

Upper Egypt Rural

1225 (84.6)

223 (15.4)

303 (75.6)

98 (24.4)

Frontier governorates

143 (42.2)

196 (57.8)

41 (77.4)

12 (22.6)

Wealth index

Poorest

842 (80.9)

199 (19.1)***

256 (80.0)

64 (20.0)***

Poorer

639 (74.1)

223 (25.9)

139 (75.1)

46 (24.9)

Middle

504 (71.5)

201 (28.5)

99 (83.9)

19 (16.1)

Richer

493 (57.5)

361 (42.3)

121 (80.1)

30 (19.9)

Richest

287 (30.1)

666 (69.9)

81 (90.0)

9 (10.0)

Mothers education

Below secondary

1138 (74.8)

383 (25.2)***

308 (74.0)

108 (26.0)***

Above secondary

1532 (55.7)

1219 (44.3)

362 (86.8)

55 (13.2)

Fathers education

Below secondary

579 (69.0)

260 (31.0)***

148 (75.5)

48 (24.5)***

Above secondary

1371 (59.9)

916(40.1)

356 (87.3)

52 (12.7)

Parental perceptions

Mothers’ attitude supporting the practice of FGM

5.27 ± 1.69

2.04 ± 1.79***

4.91 ± 1.80

5.24 ± 1.84***

Mothers’ attitude against violence

4.00 ± 1.41

4.50 ± 1.02***

4.01 ± 1.42

3.53 ± 1.52

Mothers’ decision making index

3.79 ± 2.00

3.71 ± 1.81

3.88 ± 1.86

3.66 ± 1.89

Fathers’ attitude supporting the practice of FGM

4.92 ± 1.67

3.02 ± 1.86***

4.80 ± 1.67

4.76 ± 1.53***

Fathers attitude against violence

3.97 ± 1.45

4.37 ± 1.62***

4.09 ± 1.44

3.55 ± 1.49***

Fathers’ decision making index

6.02 ± 1.57

5.76 ± 1.65***

5.78 ± 1.56

5.90 ± 1.59