Impact of anti-female genital mutilation [FGM] intervention on attitude and self-efficacy of women and youth girls to abandon this practice

The National Council for Childhood and Motherhood [NCCM] launched an Female Genital Mutilation [FGM] free village project in 2003 to eliminate FGM practice among girls in Egypt. An interim evaluation survey completed by Population Council WestAsia and North Africa office WANA followed in 2006. The complexity of FGM/C behavioural change and involvement of multiple players in decision making directs us to explore other dimensions of the decision-making process of individuals; namely perceived self-efficacy to abandon FGM. Perceived self-efficacy is concerned with people's beliefs in their capabilities to produce given attainments, it has rarely been documented in relation to anti-FGM activities. To identify a change in attitude, self-efficacy, intention among adult -women and youth girls following the project, Using actual practice as a gold standard, verifying these changes. Mid-term survey data of [Moslem villages] was included in this analysis. 305 woman having a daughter between 7-13 years in 9 randomly selected intervention villages were compared with 203 woman in 6 control villages. Also, 288 and 189 single girls 16-24 were successfully interviewed in the intervention and control sites respectively. Both adult women and young girls 16-24 in the intervention group showed significant differences in attitude, intention, and self-efficacy against FGM. These changes are complex in interpretation when compared to behavior towards daughters. The results will assist project managers in understanding [readiness to change] of women and girls towards slopping Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting [FGM/[C]

Violence among secondary school students in Assiut district

Violence by young people is one of the most visible forms of violence in society. Violence among adolescents may have serious developmental, physical and mental health consequences for the affected individuals. Violent youth are more likely than their peers to have poor mental health, use drugs, drop out of school, and be delinquent. Describe pattern, magnitude, and determinants of violence among secondary school students. A cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of 1,404 secondary school students was conducted in Assiut, Egypt, 2004-2005, using a self-administered questionnaire. [Youth self-report] scale of Achenbach was used to measure [aggression], other measures of violence were included: physical fighting and weapon carrying. The main independent variables included in the study were: age, gender, religion, residence, smoking, family bonding, and attitude towards violence, depression, victimization and conflict resolution skills. Results: 59.8% of students were involved in a physical fight in the last 12 months prior to the survey, with significant gender differences and boys being more likely to be involved in such a behavior. Weapon carrying was reported almost exclusively by boys. In the Logistic regression analysis victimization, poor self-control, poor cooperation, and possessing attitudes with a positive violence orientation were found to be strong predictors of aggression and violence. Violence is a seriously growing behavior among secondary school students that needs to be addressed through school health programs investing in healthy development of adolescents pays off in mental health of tomorrow's adults