scholarly journals Female genital mutilation (FGM) in Somaliland – why is change so slow?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annika Johansson ◽  
Abdirahman Osman Gaas ◽  
Amina Mahmoud Warsame
Keyword(s):  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Behavioural Change ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Community Group ◽  
Medical Reason ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
Health Complications ◽  
Female Genital

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is defined as any procedure involving the alteration or excision of external female genitalia for no medical reason. Somaliland has among the highest prevalence rates of FGM globally. In this article we describe how the Civil Society Organisation (CSO) ‘Network against female genital mutilation in Somaliland’ (NAFIS) has approached the challenge to reduce the high FGM prevalence. From its start in 2006, NAFIS has developed a multifaceted program to reach the overall goal: the elimination of all forms of FGM in Somaliland. Alone among the group of CSOs in the network, NAFIS introduced in its activities medical care and counselling for women who suffer from the consequences of FGM. From 2011 and onwards, thousands of women have been relieved of their FGM-related health complications and participated in counselling sessions at project centres. Shortly after this visit they have been invited to participate in community group meetings to share their experiences with other women who also have received FGM care and counselling, and other community members. The aim of the article is to describe this model of work - combining FGM care and counselling with community dialogues. The article is basically descriptive, using the authors’ own observations and encounters with project clients and staff over eight years. We have also used findings from three Master's theses on aspects of the process, and from other small scale studies to highlight people’s understanding, experiences and opinions in a context of an on-going health intervention. A lesson learnt from NAFIS project is that it has helped to open up communicative spaces in community dialogues where experiences are shared and understanding created of the harm caused by FGM, without the habitual stigma and shame. We discuss this process in a context of behavioural change theories. A major challenge during the process has been to involve men in the project’s FGM information and counselling activities. The role of nurses/midwives, being the first to meet women with FGM complications, is also discussed and the need emphasised to strengthen capacity of this category of health workers. One type of FGM gaining in usage is the poorly defined sunna, the health risks of which are unclear.

scholarly journals Towards characterization of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in rural Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 1968-78
Author(s):  
Amelia Ngozi Odo ◽  
Samuel Ifeanyi Christian Dibia ◽  
Evelyn Nwanebe Nwagu ◽  
MaryJoy Umoke ◽  
Prince Christian Ifeanachor Umoke
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Health Implications ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
Older Volunteers ◽  
Rural Nigeria ◽  
Public Health Challenge ◽  
Female Genital

Background: Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a public health challenge and seems to be secretly practiced in some rural communities, despite the ban in Nigeria. Objectives: The study aimed to identify the activities that are involved in FGM, type(s) of FGM practiced and the knowl- edge of health implications of FGM among rural community members in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Methods: We employed exploratory design using qualitative technique. In-depth interviews were conducted with 44 adult (18 years and older) volunteers in four rural communities in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. After thematic analysis using NVivo 11 Pro software, eight sub-themes emerged, among which are: types of FGM practiced, seasons for FGM, FGM by health workers and community leaders, punishment for refusing FGM and knowledge of health implications of FGM. Results: Findings show that FGM is more like a process than just an act, and type most practiced in the study area is Type 1. Circumcisers are health workers and women leaders. Knowledge of health implications of FGM was found to be low among those interviewed. Conclusion: Based on the findings, we concluded that FGM is still practiced in some rural communities in Nigeria, maybe because of poor knowledge of health implications of FGM. Keywords: Female genital mutilation; qualitative study; practice; health implications; Nigeria.

Female genital mutilation in the UK: considerations for best nursing practice

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (12) ◽  
pp. 788-791
Author(s):  
Bethany Rose
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
Nursing Practice ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
Health Complications ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Female Genital

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is any process that injures or removes part or all of the external female genital organs for non-medical reasons. FGM is a growing public health concern in the UK because of an increase in migration from countries where it is widely practised. Education on FGM for nurses is key to supporting women who have undergone the practice, as well as safeguarding girls and women who are at risk. Nurses must understand the history and culture of FGM as well as the long-term health complications to be able to support affected women both professionally and sensitively.

scholarly journals The Applicability of Behaviour Change in Intervention Programmes Targeted at Ending Female Genital Mutilation in the EU: Integrating Social Cognitive and Community Level Approaches

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Brown ◽  
David Beecham ◽  
Hazel Barrett
Keyword(s):  
Behaviour Change ◽  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
Female Circumcision ◽  
Behavioural Change ◽  
Community Change ◽  
World Health ◽  
Female Genital Cutting ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
Female Genital ◽  
The Eu

With increased migration, female genital mutilation (FGM) also referred to as female circumcision or female genital cutting is no longer restricted to Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The European Parliament estimates that up to half a million women living in the EU have been subjected to FGM, with a further 180,000 at risk. Aware of the limited success of campaigns addressing FGM, the World Health Organization recommended a behavioural change approach be implemented in order to end FGM. To date, however, little progress has been made in adopting a behaviour change approach in strategies aimed at ending FGM. Based on research undertaken as part of the EU’s Daphne III programme, which researched FGM intervention programmes linked to African communities in the EU (REPLACE), this paper argues that behaviour change has not been implemented due to a lack of understanding relating to the application of the two broad categories of behaviour change approach: individualistic decision-theoretic and community-change game-theoretic approaches, and how they may be integrated to aid our understanding and the development of future intervention strategies. We therefore discuss how these can be integrated and implemented using community-based participatory action research methods with affected communities.

scholarly journals Evaluation of progress with using community conversation as a strategy to encourage district level abandonment of female genital mutilation and/or cutting in 10 districts in Ethiopia

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen Alem ◽  
Emezat Hailu ◽  
Haile-leul Siyoum ◽  
Ibrahim Sesay ◽  
Lulit Mitik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
Behavioural Change ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Social Convention ◽  
Health Extension Workers ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
Convention Theory ◽  
Law Enforcement Officials ◽  
Document Review ◽  
Female Genital

Background: Female genital mutilation and/or cutting (FGM/C), whilst widespread, is declining in Ethiopia; 81% of 45–49-year-old women were circumcised in a 2005 survey, and 62%of 15–19-year-olds.Objectives: This evaluation examined progress in abandoning FGM/C in ten woredas(districts) where strategy based on the social convention theory had led to official declarations of abandonment and assessed if the strategy could accelerate the declining trend of the FGM/C practice in Ethiopia.Method: Quantitative and qualitative instruments collected data from a document review, a household survey (1275 households), in-depth and key informant interviews and focus group discussions.Results: Overall, there were encouraging results in terms of awareness creation and behavioural change to some extent. Sixty-nine percent of women and 41% of girls interviewed perceived a decline in the practice (range 40% – 90%) after the declaration. Seventy-six percent of women said they would not circumcise girls in the future. The involvement of influential people such as religious leaders, elders, health extension workers, and law enforcement officials in the teaching contributed immensely to the awareness creation. However, some districts reports indicated the practice had gone underground. The costs of facilitating the strategy varied from USD 3 to 7 per person, with better results where costs were higher. The abandonment events tended to costaround 25% of total costs, an area where cost efficiency can be improved.Conclusion: The evaluation has informed the dialogue around the development of the country’s first national budgeted strategy that aims to accelerate the abandonment of all harmful traditionalpractices.

scholarly journals Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study: A Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabio Mauri ◽  
Sara Cottler-Casanova ◽  
Matthias Cavassini ◽  
Marcel Stoeckle ◽  
Gilles Wandeler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Female Population ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
Previous Discussion ◽  
Health Complications ◽  
Female Genital

Abstract BackgroundFemale genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C) is the practice of partial or total removal or injury of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. It has been documented in at least 30 countries and, as a result of migration, in high-income countries too. FGM/C causes various negative health complications, and may increase the risk of acquiring human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).Our study aims to generate descriptive statistics about FGM/C among HIV positive migrant women included in the Swiss HIV cohort study (SHCS).MethodsThe Swiss HIV Cohort study (www.SHCS.ch) is a national, prospective cohort study with ongoing community and hospital enrolment of HIV-positive individuals in Switzerland. Two questions on history of FGM/C and previous discussion about it with a healthcare professional were administered by treating infectious disease specialists during the 6-monthly routine visits occurring between June and December 2019. We included all women aged above 18 years, born in one of the 30 countries where FGM/C is prevalent, in care for an HIV-infection and recorded in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study.ResultsOur findings show that FMG/C is common (21%) in the SHCS female population originating from Africa. Such data may be largely underestimated given the 33.6% of non-respondents. The vast majority (70%) of the women reporting to have been cut had never discussed FGM/C with a health professional before the study.Conclusions FMG/C is common in the SHCS female population originating from Africa, but often overlooked by health professionals working with this population. FGM/C screening, diagnosis, care and prevention could be improved significantly through training and information.Trial registration: Not Applicable

scholarly journals What Makes a Woman? Case Studies Documenting The Reasons for and Circumstances of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in Indonesia, Ethiopia and Kenya

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tasneem Kakal ◽  
Irwan Hidayana ◽  
Berhanu Abeje ◽  
Tabither Gitau ◽  
Maryse Kok ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Female Genital Cutting ◽  
Traditional Practice ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
Female Bodies ◽  
Female Genital

Abstract Background: Female genital cutting/mutilation is a harmful traditional practice that violates women’s rights and has adverse health consequences. This paper presents the reasons for and circumstances of female genital mutilation/ cutting (FGM/C) in specific settings of three countries – Indonesia, Ethiopia and Kenya.Methods: Data were collected through a household survey with young people (15-24 years) and through focus group discussions, in-depth interviews and key informant interviews with youth and community stakeholders in 2016 and 2017. Descriptive statistics and thematic content analysis were conducted.Results: The study findings confirm some of the reasons for FGM/C documented by previous studies, noting that these reasons are strongly interconnected, and gender norms are the underlying driver. In all three settings, these reasons drive the alterations of female bodies to result in a ‘cultured’ body that is acceptable to the patriarchal status quo. This results in the ‘pure body’ in Indonesia, the ‘tame’ body in Ethiopia and the ‘adult body’ in Kenya. Health workers and parents play an important role in decision-making around FGM/C in all settings. In Kenya, in particular, young women negotiate their role in decision-making around FGM/C as they are older at the time of circumcision. The study reveals how the changing legal and social contexts in each setting bring about changes in the tradition of FGM/C resulting in medicalization of FGM/C in Indonesia, a lowered age of cutting for girls in Kenya and the increasingly underground practice of FGM/C in Ethiopia.Conclusions: The three cases demonstrate the huge variation in the practice of FGM/C and the social meaning attributed to it by young women and their communities. There is a need to further explore the role of parents in decision-making. Due to the links between the different drivers of FGM/C within each context, the study concludes that context-specific strategies need to be adopted by interventions to create long-lasting change.

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