young women knowledge gaps about rh in cairo eman t. el-hadary, researcher social research center...
TRANSCRIPT
Young Women Knowledge Gaps about RH in Cairo
Eman T. El-Hadary, Researcher Social Research Center The American University in Cairo
Content
PubertyCircumcision STIsPre-Marital Tests Media Habits
Awareness
Knowledge
Sources
Attitudes
Knowledge about Puberty Symptoms in Females
Menstrual cycleBreast growth Body changes
Increased weight Increased heightUnderarm hair
Pubic hairAcne
Voice changeOthers
Don't know
82%73%
68%24%
22%21%20%
10%8%
1%
8%
Awareness of Puberty Symptoms
Mean3
symptoms
Knowledge of
Tota
l
Never-
marr
ied
Marr
ied
18
+
Earl
y M
arr
ied
Dep
rived
Not
Dep
rived
10
-14
15
-18
19
-24
25
-29
No E
du
Som
e E
du
T.
Sec.
G.
Sec.
Un
i.+
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q5
Total
Marital S. Resi-dence
Age Education Wealth Index
0.00.51.01.52.02.53.03.54.04.55.0
By socio-economic background
Knowledge of
Notes: Women with no educational background are primarily young girls at primary
• Average age at puberty is 13 years of age*
• Majority of young women agreed that the menstrual periods are a symptoms that the body disposing bad blood. However there are 33% of all women didn’t know why women experience menstrual cycle.
• The remaining 13% mentioned other reasons among which are hormonal changes, disposing excess blood and to prepare a womb to receive a fetus.
• Among the uneducated , 68% didn’t know why they have periods, and it is 74% among the 10 – 14.
• Lack of knowledge is also associated with economic status and place of residence.
Notes: * 15% of women surveyed have not reached puberty yet. 2% DK age at puberty
Knowledge of
Total
Never Married
Married 18+
Early Married
No Edu
Some Edu
T. Sec.
G. Sec
Uni+
10-14
15-18
19-24
25-29
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q5
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Never heard of it Heard of it Know about it
Knowledge of Awareness regarding menstrual cycles at first time
Never heard Heard Known Total0
102030405060708090
100 93
3826
57
3
26
19
4
33
68
31
0 3 5 2
Shocked/ scared Didn't know what to doIndifferent happy
Knowledge of Young Women Reaction when they first got their menstrual cycles: 57% of young women were shocked, scared or cried
It was inversely associated with economic status
Source of Information about menstrual cycles
Knowledge of Personal Hygiene
49
25
12 122
Knowledge of Young Women Reaction when they first got their menstrual cycles: 57% of young women were shocked, scared or cried
Mother Sisters On her own
Others
80
9 83
Who informed you about me. Cycles?
Who taught about personal hygiene?
49
25
12 12
2
Knowledge of Mothers followed by family members are the main source of information or consultation for young women
80
9 83
Who would consult if you have a
problem?
Mother
No one
Doctor Others
44
2820
8
Knowledge about Circumcision
Have you heard of circumcision? Are you
Circumcised?* Age 15
2
64
34
YesNoCircumcisedNot Circumcised
Knowledge of
Average age
10.4
Estimated prevalence of female genital mutilation in girls and women in Egypt (2008) / 15 – 49 years: 91%
Total
Deprived
Not Depr
Never Married
Married 18+
Early Married
No Edu
Some Edu
T. Sec.
G. Sec
Uni+
15-18
19-24
25-29
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q5
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Circumcised Not Circumcised Series3
Who are circumcised?
Knowledge of
By Who? Where? • 56% has been circumcised by
a doctor.
• This proportion decreased to 53% among deprived areas residents compared to 66% among non-deprived areas residents.
• Poorest women are the least likely to be circumcised by a doctor (38%) compared to 77% among young women in the richest quintile.
• Uneducated women (30%) are less likely to be circumcised by a doctor compared to women with any level of education, reaching to 70% among university educated.
• 45% of circumcisions happened in hospitals.
• Young women living in deprived areas, uneducated and from poor background are less likely to be circumcised in a hospital.
• Early married women were less likely to be circumcised in a hospital (29%) as oppose to those who married at older age (41%) and 52% among never married young women.
Knowledge of
Have you heard of circumcision? Are you
Circumcised?* Age 15
Perception and Intention for future Practice
2
64
34
YesNoCircumcisedNot Circumcised
Inte
nd
ing
Not
inte
nd
ing
DK
Imp
.
Not
Imp
.
DK
Intention to circumcision importance
4156
4940 34
27
8
91
10 7
63
3030
6958
28
44
28
Circumcised Not CircumcisedAll
Knowledge of
Average age
10.4
Perception towards circumcision
Intention to practice circumcision on baby girls
• 28% of young women believed that circumcision is important, while 44% of them believed that it is not important and 28% reported that they are undecided “neither important nor not important.”
• The importance of circumcision was negatively related to education, wealth and place of residence
• Among residents of deprived areas 33% maintained the perception of the importance of circumcision compared to 17% among non-deprived areas residents
• 30% of young women intend to circumcised their daughters in the future. This proportion increases to 34% among deprived areas residents and decreases to 20% among residents of non-deprived area
• 55% of early married young women intend to circumcise their daughters compared to 44% among those who married 18 years and older and 20% among never married young women.
• 57% of uneducated young women intend to circumcise their daughter compared to 20% of university educated young women.
• 43% of the poorest young women intend to circumcise their daughter compared to only 16% among the richest young women.
Knowledge of
Knowledge about STIs
Have you heard of STIs?
If someone in the family was affected with HIV/AIDS, should people know
about it?
Knowledge of
42
58
Yes No
STIs almost synonymous to HIV/AIDs, 97% identified HIV/AIDS as one, followed
22% syphilis,13% gonorrhea and 5%Hipatisis B
3440
12 14
Have you heard of HIV/AIDS?
4357
Yes No
TotalDeprivedNot Depr
Never MarriedMarried 18+
Early Married No Edu
Some EduT. Sec.G. Sec
Uni+10-1415-18 19-2425-29
Q1Q2Q3Q4Q5
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Aware Not Aware
Who knows about STIs?
Knowledge of
Knowledge of STIs prevention methods
How can HIV/AIDS be transmitted?
A B C DK Other
2
65
6
27
5S
exu
al
co..
.
Blo
od
tra
...
Con
tam
in..
.
By d
eli
very
By b
reast
...
Oth
er
DK
8672
32
4 2 2 3
Knowledge of
Knowledge about Marital Pre-Testing
TotalDeprivedNot Depr
Never MarriedMarried 18+
Early Married No Edu
Some EduT. Sec.G. Sec
Uni+10-1415-18 19-2425-29
Q1Q2Q3Q4Q5
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Aware Not Aware
Who knows about pre-marital tests?
Knowledge of
Approving of the marital pretesting
Why would you conduct a pre-marital testing?
Treat diseases
To check on fertility
Blood mismatch
Consanguinity effect
For check up
Contract AIDs
contraception use
Other
DK
44
42
32
29
6
4
2
1
9
Knowledge of
93
24
Yes No DK
Media Habits
They are gradated form G. Secondary & above, living in deprived, from the richest 2
quintiles.
3 hours /
Average
56% owns a
computer
43% use internet
services
Notes: Women with no educational background are primarily young girls at primary
Sat. TV Discuss with people
Internet search
Local TV National Newspapers
Oppodition Newspapers
Radio
69
54
35
14
4 3 2
Discussion• Young women are exposed to many incidents
(Circumcision, puberty, STIs, & pre-martial testing) and might be vulnerable due to lack of knowledge.
• In terms of awareness levels , one can easily observe that socio-economic background was closely correlated with almost all the issues presented.
• Special attention need to be given to girls aged 10-14, since they are at the age bracket of puberty with minimal information
• It is evident that education plays a vital role in raising women’s awareness regarding circumcision, STIs and pre-marital testing.
• Factors of deprivation and poverty have been also identified as factors that hinders women abiltiy to know
• Understanding the gaps and channels of communication, further study need to address the means to raise young women awareness.
Thank you