Female Genital Mutilation practices in Kenya: The role of Alternat ive Rites of Passage A case study of Kisii and Kuria districts (2011)
This study is a Exploratory research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics:
Author(s): Oloo H,Wanjiru M,Newell-Jones K
FGM/C Type(s): All
Health area of focus: None.
Objective: To investigate current attitudes and practices in relation to FGM among men and women at family and community levels in Kisii and Kuria.To investigate the awareness of,and attitudes towards,ARP approaches to encouraging the abandonment of FGM in Kisii and Kuria
Study Population: Mothers,Community leaders (men and women),School teachers ,Young women over the age of 18,with separate FGDs for: (a) those who have undergone FGM; and (b) those who have not undergone FGM, Young women over the age of 18 who have participated in ARP ceremonies – this group was only interviewed in Kisii ,Young men over the age of 18,with separate FGDs for those who were married and unmarried,Older men and women
Findings: The findings show that FGM is still a celebrated public event among the Kuria,dictated by the decrees from the Council of Elders,which decides when circumcision should take place. In Kisii,FGM is a private family affair,usually without public celebration,often in secret. In both communities,girls undergoing FGM are given gifts and are generally considered more suitable for marriage and more socially acceptable. Uncircumcised girls and women frequently experience stigmatism,isolation and ridicule. However,there is evidence in both Kuria and Kisii that the isolation and stigma directed towards uncircumcised girls and women is far greater for uneducated girls than for those who are educated.
Geographical coverage
Region(s):Eastern Africa
Country(ies):Kenya