Exploring Perceptions of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Abandonment (FGM/C) in Kenyan Health Care Professionals

Ayaan Mohamud; Zahida Qureshi; Gilles De Wildt; Laura Jones

doi:10.1177/10497323211015967

Exploring Perceptions of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Abandonment (FGM/C) in Kenyan Health Care Professionals

Ayaan Mohamud, Zahida Qureshi, Gilles De Wildt, Laura Jones

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Abstract

Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) remains a global problem. We aimed to explore Kenyan health care professionals’ (HCPs) perceptions of FGM/C abandonment and, in particular, those focused on those serving Maasai communities who continue to practice FGM/C. Using a grounded theory Straussian approach, 18 interviews were conducted with HCPs in Kajiado County, Kenya, to understand perceptions of FGM/C as a cultural practice, identify barriers and facilitators to abandonment, and explore attitudes to medicalization (FGM/C conducted by HCPs) and alternatives of FGM/C. Within a substantive theory, one core category (“FGM/C persists but can be abandoned”) comprised two subcategories: “exploring the influencers of persistence” and the “roadmap to abandonment.” 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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1976-1989
Number of pages	14
Journal	Qualitative Health Research
Volume	2021
Issue number	11
Early online date	4 Jun 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/10497323211015967
Publication status	Published - 4 Jun 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This study was funded by the Wolfson Foundation and the University of Birmingham. Neither funder had any involvement in the planning, execution, or analysis of the study project but study findings have been shared with both parties.

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2021.

Keywords

Kenya
abandonment
female circumcision
female genital cutting
grounded theory
health care professionals
qualitative

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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10.1177/10497323211015967Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC)

MohamudA2021Exploring
Mohamud, A. et al. (2021) ‘Exploring Perceptions of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Abandonment (FGM/C) in Kenyan Health Care Professionals’, Qualitative Health Research. doi: 10.1177/10497323211015967.
Final published version, 411 KBLicence: Creative Commons: Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC)

Cite this

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abstract = "Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) remains a global problem. We aimed to explore Kenyan health care professionals{\textquoteright} (HCPs) perceptions of FGM/C abandonment and, in particular, those focused on those serving Maasai communities who continue to practice FGM/C. Using a grounded theory Straussian approach, 18 interviews were conducted with HCPs in Kajiado County, Kenya, to understand perceptions of FGM/C as a cultural practice, identify barriers and facilitators to abandonment, and explore attitudes to medicalization (FGM/C conducted by HCPs) and alternatives of FGM/C. Within a substantive theory, one core category (“FGM/C persists but can be abandoned”) comprised two subcategories: “exploring the influencers of persistence” and the “roadmap to abandonment.” 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.",

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Exploring Perceptions of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Abandonment (FGM/C) in Kenyan Health Care Professionals

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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