Law as An Agent of Social Change: A Case Study of Female Genital Mutilation in Nigeria (2022)

This study is a Exploratory research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics: Author(s): Udowoima M. and Ukpo Q. FGM/C Type(s): All Health area of focus: None. Objective: In Nigeria,the practice of female genital mutilation continues to hold sway in some parts of the country. This begs the question: whether there is no existing legislation that prohibits,and to go a step further,criminalizes its practice?  Study Population: N/A Findings: In Nigeria,the practice of female genital mutilation continues to hold sway in some parts of the country. This begs the question: whether there is no existing legislation that prohibits,and to go a step further,criminalizes its practice? To answer this pressing question,it is submitted that the present issue is not the lack of extant laws on the subject matter. Rather,the issue is anchored round the lack of effective enforcement,and efficient monitoring mechanisms. Since the enactment of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP),in 2015 ,there has been no identified prosecutions. Again,having a strong enforcement mechanism is important. However,without accompanying efforts to promote social change by changing values,enforcement is unlikely to yield positive efforts. A Female Genital Mutilation-Free society is achievable. It has been realized in Egypt and other African countries. The major hurdle to overcome is the problem of enforcing the existing laws. Once the problem of enforcement is resolved,FGM would be a story of the past. Geographical coverage Region(s):Western Africa Country(ies):Nigeria Source

September 8, 2023

Legislating Change? Responses to Criminalizing Female Genital Cutting in Senegal (2013)

This study is a Descriptive research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics: Author(s): Bettina Shell-Duncan,Ylva Hernlund,Katherine Wander,and Amadou Moreau FGM/C Type(s): All Health area of focus: None. Objective: To examine the range of responses observed in rural Senegal,where a 1999 anti-FGC law was imposed on communities in which the practice was being actively contested and targeted for elimination. Study Population: Elder/younger men an women Findings: We concluded that legislation can complement other reform strategies by creating an “enabling environment” that supports those who have or wish to abandon FGC Geographical coverage Region(s):Western Africa Country(ies):Senegal Source

Legislative impact on the fight against Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in The Gambia (2019)

This study is a Descriptive research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics: Author(s): Stenberg,J.,& Thorsson,C. (2019). FGM/C Type(s): All Health area of focus: None. Objective: The purpose of this qualitative study is to examine and analyse what experiences and perceptions NGOs in The Gambia have with using legislative action against FGM /C,how their work has changed due to the legislation as well as examine their perception on local community attitudes towards the law. This has been done using the theories of Cultural Relativism vs Universalism and through selected concepts within Hofstede’s Theory of Cultural Dimensions. This study will theorise what happens when a law representing western norms and values gets implemented in a society where culture,traditions and the collective group is highly important Study Population: The primary data of the study consists of four in-depth interviews with selected NGOs. Our selection of participants was based on the following criteria; the respondents are to be working within an NGO in which the subject of FGM/C is the core business,and the respondents should have a high-ranking position within the organisation to be able to possess a broad knowledge of the work being done Findings: Findings show that The Gambia,in particularly local communities,holds a strong cultural relativistic mentality and is characterized by a collectivistic culture in which the power distance is high. This society puts emphasis on collective identity,solidarity and collective decisions as well as traditional heritage and cultural values. Implementing a law that promotes western values thus brings problems and a lack of efficiency Geographical coverage Region(s):Western Africa Country(ies):Gambia Source

Lessons learned from implementing alternative rites in the fight against female genital mutilation/cutting (2019)

This study is a Descriptive research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics: Author(s): Graamans,E. P.,Zolnikov,T. R.,Smet,E.,Nguura,P. N.,Leshore,L. C.,& Ten Have,S. FGM/C Type(s): All Health area of focus: None. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of alternative rites of passage (ARP) Study Population: The sample consisted of children,adolescents,adults and elderly of both genders and fulfilling a variety of community roles,both traditional and contemporary Findings: risk of exclusion,perceived loss of cultural identity,changing meanings ascribed to cultural practices,lack of precise knowledge about subjective (sexual) experience and negative stereotyping are reasons not to adhere to anti-FGM/C programs. Areas of concern are the role confusion with following-up on policing,perceived outsider interference and the intended prolonging of the transition phase into womanhood not being explicated and embedded with ARP. Aspects to enhance to lever change more effectively are education and school curriculum development,male involvement,new stylization of love relationships,monitoring and evaluation and inclusive aspects of religion Geographical coverage Region(s):Eastern Africa Country(ies):Kenya Source

Lessons Learned from Implementing Alternative Rites in The Fight Against FGM/C (2019)

This study is a Descriptive research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics: Author(s): E Graamans,T Zolnikov,E Smet,P Nguura,L Leshore,S Have. FGM/C Type(s): All Health area of focus: none. Objective: to empower the affected sub-groups within the practicing communities that wanted to resist FGM/C but did not have feasible way of doing so. Study Population: Women,girls,boys(moran),elderly of both genders. Findings: risks of exclussion,percieved loss of cultural identity,changing meanings ascribed cultural practices,lack of precise knowledge about subjective(sexual) experience and negative stereotyping are reasons not to adhere to anti-FGM/C programs. Geographical coverage Region(s):Eastern Africa Country(ies):Kenya Source

Life Histories and Lifelines: A Methodological Symbiosis for the Study of Female Genital Mutilation (2021)

This study is a Exploratory research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics: Author(s): Gutiérrez-García AI,Solano-Ruíz C,Siles-González J,Perpiñá-Galvañ J FGM/C Type(s): All Health area of focus: None. Objective: The objective of this study was to analyse the use of life histories and lifelines in the study of female genital mutilation (FGM) in the context of cross-cultural research in participants with language differences. It explored the strengths and challenges of the combined use of both the lifelines and life stories of women who have been subjected to FGM. The lifeline tool was employed during the second interview with the participants,and the results of this work are explored hin this article by examining the lifelines of three of the participants. Study Population: women living in Spain whod who met the established criteria of having experienced FGM as a child or adolescent and being sufficiently sociolinguistic competent in Spanish to enable communication Findings: The use of two techniques strengthened the researchers’ knowledge of women’s lives and facilitated reflection and critical thinking by the study participants,generating richer and more in-depth data on the study problem. The difficulties that some women had in the communication process are diminished by the visual and chronological representation of the events in the lifelines. The visualization of their lifelines and the realization of this activity for which they did not feel capable due to their lack of education,empowered them,generating a great personal satisfaction. The results of this study confirm the usefulness of combining visual and narrative methods in groups where communication difficulties are an obstacle to the collection of information. Exploring new forms of expression and data collection can give voice to underrepresented groups in qualitative research.The expression of feelings through lifelines and reflections on their experiences have enabled us to understand the sub-Saharan women in the diaspora,traditional practices such as FGM or forced marriages,the socio-cultural context,the value of women in sub-Saharan society and migration processes. We have also been able to capture the process of acculturation and its consequences,not always positive for the eradication of FGM. This research contributed to expanding the knowledge about the joint use of visual methods,in this case,lifelines,alongside interviews for data collection. The aim of this work was to describe and report upon the combined use of these techniques in women with certain communication difficulties related to using a language other than their mother tongue in the context of multiple interviews and when dealing with a sensitive and culturally-rooted topic. Geographical coverage Region(s):Southern Europe Country(ies):Spain Source

Like mother,like daughter? Female genital cutting in Minia,Egypt (2002)

This study is a Descriptive research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics: Author(s): Yount Kathryn M FGM/C Type(s): All Health area of focus: None. Objective: To find out factors affecting a mothers’ decision to circumcise daughters Study Population: Mothers,Daughters Findings: A mother’s education was negatively associated with,and her circumcision status positively associated with,her intent and decision to circumcise a daughter. Increasing reliance on doctors to perform the procedure was positively associated with urban residence and father’s education,indicating a need to understand local meanings of modernity Geographical coverage Region(s):Northern Africa Country(ies):Egypt Source

Listening to African Voices. Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting among Immigrants in Hamburg: Knowledge,Attitudes and Practice (2011)

This study is a Descriptive research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics: Author(s): Behrendt,Alice FGM/C Type(s): All Health area of focus: None. Objective: To listen to the opinions,perceptions and propositions of immigrants from Sub-Saharan Africa regarding the practice of FGM/C Study Population: key informants,men and women Findings: According to official records,about 11,200 immigrants from Sub-Saharan Africa reside in Hamburg. The findings of the current study indicate that about 40% of these immigrants have roots in families where FGM/C is practiced. There are more men from practicing families than women due to the considerably higher proportion of men immigrants from certain countries in West Africa (Guinea,Burkina Faso,Gambia,Cote d’Ivoire) in which there is a moderate to high prevalence of FGM/C. The majority of immigrants from practicing groups ( ≈ 70%) associates FGM/C with one or more advantages,notably the social acceptance of their community,better marriage prospects as well as the reduction of the sexual desire in women. Furthermore,about 18% of the participants from practicing groups perceive FGM/C as a religious requirement. There are both Christians and Muslims in this group,although the Muslims represent the greater proportion. About two-thirds of the participants reported some awareness of the risks and harm arising from the practice of FGM/C. The proportion was significantly smaller among immigrants from practicing families. The lowest degree of awareness was found among members of the Guinean and Gambian communities. It can be estimated that at least 30% of women immigrants from Sub-Saharan Africa underwent FGM/C before migrating to Europe. The most common types are: Type 1 (Partial or total removal of the clitoris and/or the prepuce ) and Type II (Partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora,with or without excision of the labia majora). Infibulations seem to be a rare exception. Geographical coverage Region(s):Western Europe Country(ies):Germany Source

Listening to North Yarra Communities about female genital cutting (2014)

This study is a Exploratory research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics: Author(s): Cathy Vaughan,Narelle White,Louise Keogh,John Tobin,Bich Ha,Maria Ibrahim,Chris Bayly FGM/C Type(s): All Health area of focus: None. Objective: The project aimed to improve understanding of the impacts of FGC in inner Melbourne,by engaging with local women and communities Study Population: community members, service providers Findings: FGC has decreasing relevance to communities now living in North Yarra,and community members who participated in this project felt that FGC was also happening less frequently in their countries of origin. While FGC was associated with tradition,community cohesion and cultural identity,the importance of the practice was seen to reduce over time following resettlement in Australia. The stigma experienced by uncircumcised women in countries of origin was not something that participants reported in Australia. Community members emphasised the enormous generational change that has taken place,with younger women usually being strongly opposed to FGC for their daughters. Geographical coverage Region(s):Australia and New Zealand Country(ies):Australia Source

Lived experiences and opinions of women of sub-Saharan origin on female genital mutilation: A phenomenological study (2022)

This study is a Descriptive research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics: Author(s): Martínez-Linares,J. M., López-Entrambasaguas,O. M., Fernández-Medina,I. M., Berthe-Kone,O., Fernández-Sola,C., Jiménez-Lasserrotte,M. D. M., Hernández-Padilla,J. M.,& Canet-Vélez,O FGM/C Type(s): All Health area of focus: None. Objective: This study aimed to describe and understand the lived experiences and opinions of sub-Saharan women living in Spain in relation to female genital mutilation. Study Population: sub-Saharan women living in Spain Findings: Two themes with four subthemes were identified from the data analysis: 1) ‘The traumatic experience of female circumcision’ with the subthemes ‘Female mutilation is a physical and psychological torture procedure’ and ‘recognising and coping with negative emotions’; 2) ‘The fight for the eradication of female genital mutilation’ which contains the subthemes ‘the need for a real sociocultural change at the origin’ and ‘“I want to be the last”: Personal development leads to sociocultural change’.Conclusions Female genital mutilation was experienced by women as a very aggressive and traumatic event. It causes considerable negative emotions that last over time. Although there is a tendency to reject the practice,in women’s countries of origin,there is social pressure for girls to be mutilated.Relevance to clinical practice Caring for women who have suffered from female genital mutilation requires awareness of the traumatic experience they underwent when they were girls. Healthcare professionals play a crucial role in eradicating female genital mutilation. Apart from education,preventive measures may include specific recommendations when girls are travelling to the country of origin and participatory action research.What does this paper contribute to the wider global clinical community? Female genital mutilation/cutting constitutes a traumatic experience that conditions the quality of life of women who suffer it. Stress,pain,sexual dissatisfaction and identity issues are regularly reported. Education of men and women is the foundation of activism against female genital mutilation. Geographical coverage Region(s):Southern Europe Country(ies):Spain Source