Women's position and attitudes towards female genital mutilation in Egypt : a secondary analysis of the Egypt demographic and health surveys, 1995-2014

Background: Female genital mutilation (FGM) is still widespread in Egyptian society. It is strongly entrenched in local tradition and culture and has a strong link to the position of women. To eradicate the practice a major attitudinal change is a required for which an improvement in the social position of women is a prerequisite. This study examines the relationship between Egyptian women's social positions and their attitudes towards FGM, and investigates whether the spread of anti-FGM attitudes is related to the observed improvements in the position of women over time. Methods: Changes in attitudes towards FGM are tracked using data from the Egypt Demographic and Health Surveys from 1995 to 2014. Multilevel logistic regressions are used to estimate 1) the effects of indicators of a woman's social position on her attitude towards FGM, and 2) whether these effects change over time. Results: Literate, better educated and employed women are more likely to oppose FGM. Initially growing opposition to FGM was related to the expansion of women's education, but lately opposition to FGM also seems to have spread to other segments of Egyptian society. Conclusions: The improvement of women's social position has certainly contributed to the spread of anti-FGM attitudes in Egyptian society. Better educated and less traditional women were at the heart of this change, and formed the basis from where anti-FGM sentiment has spread over wider segments of Egyptian society

Fertility change in Egypt

This work focuses on Egypt, a country that notwithstanding its advanced stage of socio-demographic transition has shown near stagnation in the reduction of fertility levels in the last decade. The progression from second to third birth is a crucial component in fertility change, since the reduction especially of third and higher-order births maintains the fertility decline. For this reason, the study aims at analyzing the main determinants of the third-birth intensities of Egyptian two-child mothers, applying an event-history analysis to the 2000 Egyptian Demographic and Health Survey. The study’s results show that fertility differentials among the country’s social groups continue to persist. Moreover, the difficult change in the fertility of women with high educational standards seems to be responsible for the stalling fertility decline during recent years. The analysis, however, has demonstrated that within the framework of the ongoing process of modernization in the country, even the most laggard groups of women showed a decrease in third-birth intensity during the 1990s. The study also reveals that the preference for at least one son in the family on the progression to the third child is weakening among women who have completed secondary education.event history analysis, fertility transition in Egypt, progression from second to third birth

Ideal Family Size and Fertility in Egypt: An Overview of Recent Trends

Egypt is already the most populous Arab country in the world with 93 million citizens in 2016 which may grow to about 120 million by 2030 if the same level of fertility continues. This paper aims to offer an overview of the evolution over time of the ideal number of children in Egypt, assessing previous researches and giving a particular emphasis on most recent data on such topic. In a context of raising fertility, whose causes are still unknown, we test the persistence of a high ideal number of children among younger cohorts

Ending the medicalization of female genital mutilation/cutting in Egypt

This policy brief examines the extent of medicalization of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in Egypt, the characteristics of girls who were cut by medical personnel, factors that may have contributed to increased medicalization, and potential interventions that could influence both physicians and the public to completely abandon the practice. The data show that younger cohorts of women, those from higher wealth quintiles, higher levels of education, and living in urban regions are more likely to have been cut by medical personnel. More importantly, the analysis shows that despite medicalization being more common among young women with the above-mentioned characteristics, it is in fact prevalent among all groups of young women and in all regions of Egypt. In order to end the practice of FGM/C, interventions must aim to stop physicians from performing FGM/C, while correspondingly aiming to decrease the demand of the public for FGM/C. Additionally, interventions must address underlying cultural and religious norms that perpetuate the practice of FGM/C. The brief includes specific recommendations to address these factors

Probabilistic population forecasts for Egypt

Abstract Considering the importance of population forecast, as a basic tool for a wide range of decision makers and planners, this paper produces probabilistic population forecasts for Egypt during the period starting from 2006 to 2051. It dependsmainly on experts' knowledge and arguments which can help to illustrate the uncertainties associated with future demographic trends. The results show that the total population of Egypt is likely to increase significantly over the coming 20 years, from about 73 million to over 100 million (97.12 and 103.5 million), with 95 percent uncertainty range).Keywords: Fertility; mortality; probabilistic; forecasts; EgyptRésumé Etant donnée l'importance de la prévision démographique, comme outil de base pour un large éventail de décideurs et de planificateurs, ce document présente des projections probabilistes de la population égyptienne de 2006 à 2051. Cellesci se basent principalement sur les connaissances des experts et leurs arguments qui permettent d’illustrer les incertitudes liées aux évolutions démographiques futures. Les résultats montrent que la population totale de l'Egypte est susceptible d'augmenter de manière significative au cours des 20 prochaines années d'environ 73 millions à plus de 100 millions, la marge d’incertitude au seuil de 95% allant de 97,12 à 103,5 millions.Mots clés: fertilité, mortalité, probabiliste , previsions , L'Egypt

Trends in attitudes towards female genital mutilation among ever-married Egyptian women, evidence from the Demographic and Health Surveys, 1995–2014: paths of change

Background: Over the past few decades Egypt has attempted to limit and control female genital mutilation (FGM). However, these efforts have not succeeded in curbing the practice, which maintains wide popular support and is firmly embedded in local traditions and structures. An attitudinal change is therefore a prerequisite for any successful campaign against FGM. This paper charts the evolution of beliefs that the practice of FGM in Egypt should be stopped. Method: This paper examines trends in opposition to FGM among ever-married women in Egypt between 1995 and 2014, using six waves of the Egypt Demographic and Health Surveys. Results: The results show that the percentage of ever-married women who think the practice of FGM should be stopped rose from 13.9 % in 1995 to 31.3 % in 2014. The central question here is whether this trend exists because new cohorts of young married women are more modern and more opposed to the practice, or because opposition to FGM has spread through multiple segments of society. Our results show that back in 1995 opposition to FGM was concentrated in two groups: non-circumcised women, and wealthy, highly educated urban women. Between 1995 and 2014 opposition to FGM increased considerably among other groups of women. Conclusion: Our results show that the observed increases in opposition to FGM are not caused by younger cohorts of married women who oppose FGM, nor by the expansion of the groups most likely to oppose FGM. Rather, the results imply that the belief that FGM should be stopped spread to all walks of life, although poorly educated rural women remain least likely to oppose FGM

The private sector as a provider of family planning services in Egypt: Challenges and opportunities

The recent increase in Egypt’s fertility rate, following decades of progress in lowering fertility levels, highlights the need for renewed attention to the country’s family planning program. The Ministry of Health is currently the largest provider of family planning in Egypt, serving a diverse population of women, many of whom may not need the free public service. Expanding the role of the private sector in the provision of family planning services and supplies holds great potential to more effectively meet the current and future family planning needs of millions of Egyptian women. This brief examines the role of the private sector in providing FP services and identifies challenges that are hindering the private sector from playing a more effective role in FP service delivery. In conclusion, this brief offers recommendations on how to strengthen the role of the private sector in providing FP to meet the needs of 16 million women with a demand for family planning

Important lessons on FGM/C abandonment from four research studies in Egypt

Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) continues to be a widespread practice in Egypt. According to the 2014 Egypt Demographic and Health Survey, the prevalence of FGM/C was 92 percent among ever-married women aged 15–49. However, Egypt continues to witness a drastic surge in the medicalization of FGM/C, with 74 percent of women aged 19 years and younger circumcised by medical practitioners, compared to 55 percent in 1995. This policy brief provides key results and recommendations of four studies conducted by the Population Council/ Egypt under the Evidence to End FGM/C project, in coordination with Egypt’s National Population Council. The four studies investigated the process through which families reach a decision on FGM/C; study the impact of FGM/C campaigns on the perspectives surrounding the practice; examine the characteristics of abandoners and challenges they face in maintaining their position; and understand the drivers of the medicalization of the practice. The ultimate goal of the studies, conducted between 2016 and 2019, is to assist the National Taskforce for Ending Female Genital Mutilation/Circumcision in developing evidence-based policies and programs to accelerate the abandonment of FGM/C

Situational analysis of the private sector in the delivery of family planning services in Egypt: Current status and potential for increased involvement

The recent increase in Egypt’s total fertility rate, along with stalling contraceptive rates and persistent unmet need for family planning (FP), highlights a need to explore new venues for providing FP services. The specific objectives of this study are to determine the size, scope, and scale of private-sector FP providers (private physicians, nongovernmental organization clinics, and private pharmacies); examine the policy and regulatory environment for private provision of FP products and services; and assess business, financing, and training needs of the private health sector and the potential for expanding its role in FP service provision. To improve current trends in contraceptive uptake and provide expanded service delivery and contraceptive options for Egyptian couples, the report proposes a number of recommendations. These could strengthen the role of the private sector as it complements the government’s current and planned efforts to meet population demand for contraception