Exploring Perceptions of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Abandonment (FGM/C) in Kenyan Health Care Professionals (2021)
This study is a Exploratory research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics:
Author(s): Mohamud A,Qureshi Z,de Wildt G,Jones L
FGM/C Type(s): All
Health area of focus: None.
Objective: This grounded theory (GT) study aimed to investigate the perceptions and attitudes of HCPs to the abandonment of FGM/C in Kajiado County,Kenya. The objectives were to (a) understand the perceptions of FGM/C as a cultural practice,(b) identify barriers and facilitators to its abandonment,(c) explore attitudes to the medicalization of FGM/C,and (d) explore attitudes to alternatives of FGM/C such as ARP
Study Population: Participants were eligible for recruitment if they worked as any Health Care Provider cadre including,but not limited to,doctors,nurses,midwives,social workers,and community health workers. Participants had to be working at Kajiado Referral Hospital,have experience of caring for FGM/C affected girls or women within the last 5 years,be able to converse fluently in English,and give written informed consent to interview and audio-recording. There were no exclusion criteria
Findings: The majority of participants were: female; over the age of 35 years; a nurse; regularly providing care to FGM/C-affected girls or women; reported that FGM/C prevalence was high; and aware of local abandonment activities and FGM/C illegality. Half of participants identified as Maasai. HCPs believed collaborative multilateral efforts were necessary to support successful abandonment and that “enlightening” the community needed to focus on changing the perception of FGM/C as a social norm alongside a health risk educational approach. Future effective intervention is needed to support the abandonment of FGM/C in Kenya.
Geographical coverage
Region(s):Eastern Africa
Country(ies):Kenya