Asian Research Thesis Index

Abstract

Background: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), female genital mutilation (FGM) includes all procedures that involve removal of the female genitalia and / or injury to the female genital organs for cultural and / or any other nonmedical reason. The practice poses serious threats to women’s health hence violating their health and rights. FGM, also referred to as genital cutting, is deeply rooted amongst the Abagusii community of Kenya, with 84% of the girls cut as per Kenya Demographic Health Survey report of 2014 and the medicalized form slowly replacing the traditional cut. Overall in Kenya, the medicalized form stands at 14% as at 2014. Although FGM is illegal in Kenya, and the existing strategies by government through various laws and policies to curb FGM notwithstanding, its prevalence among the Abagusii community remains unacceptably high and medicalization seems to be increasing. Understanding the experiences and perspectives amongst healthcare professionals and community leaders in this community, will help inform new strategies to curb the practice. Objectives: Primary objective: To explore the experiences and perspectives of health professionals and community leaders towards FGM and its medicalization in Kisii county. Secondary objectives: To establish the experiences and perspectives among health professionals and community leaders on factors that contribute to the continued practice of FGM in Kisii county and secondly, to elicit views of health professionals and community leaders on new strategies that if used, could help curb the medicalization of FGM in Kisii county. Methods: A qualitative study using a focused ethnography approach was conducted to explore the experiences and perspectives of health professionals and community leaders towards FGM and its medicalization in Kisii county. Sampling was purposive. Twenty-six participants (18 health professionals and eight community leaders) from two sub-counties of Kisii County were recruited. Signed informed consent was acquired from all participants. Data collection was done using audio-recorded semi-structured interviews. All audiorecordings were transcribed in English. A thematic approach was used for analysis supported by NVivo version 12 plus software. Results: A total of 18 healthcare professionals (six doctors, six clinical officers, six nurses), eight community leaders (two representatives from local community-based organizations relevant to the study topic of interest, two religious leaders and four chiefs/assistant chiefs) were interviewed. Among health workers, doctors demonstrated more understanding on FGM compared to the other healthcare professionals. All the study participants demonstrated little knowledge on existing laws and policies. The general attitude towards FGM

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