Are There “Stages of Change” in the practice of Female Genital Cutting? Qualitative Research Finding from Senegal and the Gambia (2006)
This study is a Descriptive research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics:
Author(s): B Shell-Duncan and Y Herniund
FGM/C Type(s): All
Health area of focus: None.
Objective: To explore whether and how theoretical models of stages of behaviour change can be applied to FGC.
Study Population: Married females (413) who had at least one life birth and their husbands (318)
Findings: Findings suggested that individual readiness to change the practice of FGC was most clearly seen as operating along a continuum,and that broad stages of change characterized regions or segments of this continuum. Stages identified by previous researchers for other “problems behaviours” such as smoking inadequately describe readiness to change FGC since this decision is often a collective rather than individual one. The data revealed that the concept of stage of change was a complex construct that simultaneously captured behaviour,motivation,and features of the environment in which the decision was being made. Consequently stages identified in this research reflected the multidimensional nature of readiness to change the practice of FGC. Limitations of stage of change models as applied to FGC included the fact that they did not capture important aspects of the dynamics of negotiation between decision-makers,and did not reflect the shifting nature of opinions of individuals or the constellation of decision-makers. Nonetheless,the study suggested that the application of stage of change theory may provide a useful means of describing readiness for change of individual decisions-makers,and at an aggregate level,patterns of readiness for change in a community.
Geographical coverage
Region(s):Western Africa
Country(ies):Senegal,Gambia