Perceptions of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) among the Ethiopian community living in Nairobi (2014)
This study is a Descriptive research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics:
Author(s): GW Jaldesa and MS Abdi
FGM/C Type(s): All
Health area of focus: None.
Objective: To gain a better understanding of FGM/C among the Ethiopian community in Nairobi and of their perceptions about the practice to inform the design and implementation of a community-based strategy that would encourage abandonment of FGM/C.
Study Population: Members of Ethiopia community living in Eastleigh area of Nairobi,Kenya.
Findings: FGM/C is a practice aimed at not only controlling female sexuality but also places girls and women in a socially accepted gender role by curtailing their sexuality. Other than the medical complications associated with FGM/C,respondents also agreed that FGM/C is a violation of human rights and that the communities needed to be educated for them to consider abandoning the practice; sustained community education is crucial,therefore,to initiate abandonment of FGM/C. Such education should involve different actors and should be introduced in a manner that communities find acceptable. Study noted that there was need for greater efforts on using religious arguments against the practice. The study concluded that there was need to educate religious and traditional leaders,policy makers and the general public on the harmful effects of FGM/C,including it being an abuse of human rights.
Geographical coverage
Region(s):Eastern Africa
Country(ies):Kenya