The prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM): The Prospective form of Angacha district Kembata Community; SNNPRS, Ethiopia (Published)
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is recognized internationally as a violation of human rights of girls and women constituting an extreme form of gender discrimination with documented health consequences. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of FGM practice in the study area. A community based cross-sectional study design was applied. Both quantitative and qualitative study methods are employed. A total of 278 women at reproductive age (15-49) are sampled for the study from six randomly selected kebeles of Angacha woreda. The survey data was analyzed by SPSS software version 20. Descriptive statistics such as mean, percentage, and frequency are used for analyzing data. Qualitative data is analyzed thematically and the result is presented in narration. From study participants, 92.4% are practiced FGM, and 77.7% of are undergone themselves. The practice is undergone by health professionals at night time. Traditions, reproductive and community roles, norms, and values regarding gender equality are the major push factors for the continuation of the FGM. Mothers are the primary supporters of the practice in the family. Based on the findings, it was concluded that, the prevalence of FGM is high in the study area. Attitudinal transformation is needed through a cooperative and collaborative campaign of all stakeholders in the entire community by arranging trainings, workshops, and media to minimize the prevalence of female genital mutilation.
Keywords: Female Genital Mutilation, Kembata Community, Prevalence
Female Genital Mutilation: A Rite Of Passage or a Breach of Women’s Rights in Nigeria (Published)
Female genital mutilation or female circumcision constitutes one of the vital challenges confronting the rights of women in Nigeria. Attempts geared towards its complete eradication have remained unsuccessful to date due to the fact that the practice is entrenched in the culture or traditional beliefs of the people. The article sought to address the question whether female genital mutilation was merely a rite of passage or it amounted to a grave violation of women’s rights in Nigeria. A number of justifications have been advanced for the continued practice of female genital mutilation in Nigeria. Nonetheless, the study revealed that the practice, though considered as an initiation rite into womanhood in some communities, posed serious immediate and long term health consequences to the victims as well as violated various human rights’ principles guaranteed under international, regional and national instruments. Thus, the article recommended, inter alia, that the Nigerian government and all relevant global and local stakeholders should adopt suitable mechanism towards the abolition of the practice in Nigeria.
Keywords: Culture, Female Circumcision, Female Genital Mutilation, discriminatory practices, female genital cutting, rite of passage, women’s rights
Interventions by Government and Non-Governmental Organizations towards Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and the Attitude Portrayed By the Pokot Community on Repressing FGM (Published)
In the efforts to terminate Female Genital Mutilation globally, in the recent years some religious authorities have openly opposed the continued practice of Female Genital Mutilation, at least the most radical operations. The paper aims at identifying some of the interventions by the government and non- governmental organizations undertaken to reduce the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Kenya. It also seeks to examine the attitude of the West Pokot Community towards the measures taken by these organizations in stopping FGM. Focus was made in Sook Division of West Pokot County which was selected randomly out of the four locations in the District. A descriptive cross-sectional, qualitative research design was used due to the nature of the study as it inquired about people’s attitudes and feelings on FGM practice and interventions against it. The study considered 63 participants for interviews, all above 18 years; 9 key informants and 54 members of 7 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with between 6-10 participants. Interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect data. The study revealed divided opinions about Female Genital Mutilation among the Pokot. Most of the community members seem to be in favour of the practice, while others are against it. Government and the World Vision Organization are intervening against the practice in the region and most participants seem to have negative perception on the anti FGM measures laid down by the Government and the Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs). To help the community understand and change these cultural practices, there is need to involve other stake holders concerned with the FGM, these include the girls, parents, old women, men, traditional circumcisers with whom the government and Non- governmental organizations should work with.
Keywords: Community, Female Genital Mutilation, Government, Non-governmental Organization, attitude
Interventions by Government and Non-Governmental Organizations towards Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and the Attitude Portrayed By the Pokot Community on Repressing FGM (Published)
In the efforts to terminate Female Genital Mutilation globally, in the recent years some religious authorities have openly opposed the continued practice of Female Genital Mutilation, at least the most radical operations. The paper aims at identifying some of the interventions by the government and non- governmental organizations undertaken to reduce the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Kenya. It also seeks to examine the attitude of the West Pokot Community towards the measures taken by these organizations in stopping FGM. Focus was made in Sook Division of West Pokot County which was selected randomly out of the four locations in the District. A descriptive cross-sectional, qualitative research design was used due to the nature of the study as it inquired about people’s attitudes and feelings on FGM practice and interventions against it. The study considered 63 participants for interviews, all above 18 years; 9 key informants and 54 members of 7 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with between 6-10 participants. Interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect data. The study revealed divided opinions about Female Genital Mutilation among the Pokot. Most of the community members seem to be in favour of the practice, while others are against it. Government and the World Vision Organization are intervening against the practice in the region and most participants seem to have negative perception on the anti FGM measures laid down by the Government and the Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs). To help the community understand and change these cultural practices, there is need to involve other stake holders concerned with the FGM, these include the girls, parents, old women, men, traditional circumcisers with whom the government and Non- governmental organizations should work with.
Keywords: Community, Female Genital Mutilation, Government, Non-governmental Organization, attitude
Effects of Female Genital Mutilation on the Girl Child’s Social Life among the Ameru Community of Kenya (Published)
Since the ban of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Kenya, the Ameru community continues the practice in spite of the associated stigma and adverse effects on the initiates. Basically, FGM involves the partial removal, total removal or alteration of girls’ or women’s genitalia which in effect disorients the initiates’ social lives in terms of marriage; relationships; social Interactions; personal advancement and denial of essential rights such as education. To this end, this study sought to determine the effects of FGM on the girl child’s social life among the Ameru community of Kenya. The study adapted the descriptive survey research design on a sample size of 481 respondents comprising of 408 initiated girls, 48 health workers, 3 social workers and 30 Focus Group Discussion members selected by use of snow ball sampling and purposive sampling techniques. Data were collected using questionnaires, interview schedules and Focus Group Discussion schedules. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 17.0. Descriptive statistics including means, frequencies, percentages and standard deviations were used to analyze the data. The findings indicated that FGM hindered the initiated girls from exploiting their full potential and competencies due to social withdrawal, limited interactions and lack of involvement in many career opportunities occasioned by early marriages. Thus, it was recommended that the government, nongovernmental organizations as well as other stakeholders should advocate for community activities that foster an enabling environment for collective social change towards FGM social convention shift and contribute to an improvement in the wellbeing of initiated girls and women in the Ameru community.
Keywords: Female Genital Mutilation, Girl Child, Social wellbeing
