Is Alternative Rite of Passage the Key to Abandonment of Female Genital Cutting? A case study of the Samburu of Kenya (2016)
This study is a Explanatory research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics:
Author(s): Mepukori Daisy Nashipai
FGM/C Type(s): All
Health area of focus: None.
Objective: The study which focused on Female Genital Cutting among the Samburu of Kenya,sought to begin bridging the knowledge gap by evaluating the Alternative Rite of Passage (ARP) intervention program
Study Population: Elders comprising men of an older age set,above sixty years. The women’ group age ranging from early thirties to late fifties,and cohort of girls between nine and fifteen
Key informant in-depth interviews conducted with officers from the Office of the Public Prosecutor,Amref,County Parliament,Department of Education,Department of Social Services,and the anti-FGM Board
Findings: Results indicated that for the few groups that have had dedicated training on the harmful effects of FGC and possibility of Alternative Rites,there is increased reproductive health knowledge,and in some instances training has led to changing circumcision practices (from genital cutting to genital modification). Community members that had been sensitized were able to articulate the deleterious effects of FGC and were more likely to assert that the tradition should be discontinued because of the harm it conferred on young girls. Shifts in attitude vis-à-vis female circumcision were found to be more present in regions where multiple ethnic groups co-exist. In such multiethnic groups,the Samburu community is able to draw comparisons between the health of its circumcised women and that of non-circumcised women from other ethnic groups such as the Turkana. However,since training has only reached a small segment of the population,the majority of the community remains largely unaware of the dangers of female circumcision. This majority segment is firmly pro-circumcision and views the rite as a normal,unproblematic,way of life. Their belief in the importance of adhering to ritual is further bolstered by politicians’ reluctance to confront the topic of female circumcision fearing that they will lose votes. To the extent that Alternative Rite of Passage interventions are only successful when the majority rallies against female circumcision,there remains insufficient community buy-in for the intervention to succeed in the Samburu community.
Geographical coverage
Region(s):Eastern Africa
Country(ies):Kenya