The impact of community led alternative rite of passage on eradication of female genital mutilation/cutting in kajiado county, Kenya: A quasi-experimental study

Samuel Muhula,Sarah Karanja,Hilke Conradi,Yvonne Opanga,Martha Bande,Anthony Mveyange,Charles Leshore,Samuel O Oti,Hellen Kayiaa,Enock Marita,David Kawai,Eefje Smet

doi:10.15761/fwh.1000185

Abstract

Introduction In Kenya, Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) is highly prevalent in specific communities such as the Maasai and Somali. With the intention of curtailing FMG/C prevalence in Maasai community, Amref Health Africa, designed and implemented a novel intervention—community-led alternative rite of passage (CLARP) in Kajiado County in Kenya since 2009. The study: a) determined the impact of the CLARP model on FGM/C, child early and forced marriages (CEFM), teenage pregnancies (TP) and years of schooling among girls and b) explored the attitude, perception and practices of community stakeholders towards FGM/C.

Highlights

The intervention aims to protect girls and women from FGM/C, measured by reduction in FGM/C cases, reduced cases of both child early and forced marriage and teenage pregnancy, and improvement in secondary school completion rates. We present both the quantitative and qualitative findings regarding the impacts of Community Led alternative rite of passage (CLARP) on FGM/C prevalence, CEFM, TP and years of schooling among girls in Kajiado County
The findings reported in this study are consistent with those of the Yes I Do Alliance (YIDA) programme (31) which point to a reduction in child marriages, teenage pregnancies and FGM/C prevalence as a result of community engagement and sensitisation on gender equality and sexual and reproductive health knowledge
While the quantitative analysis resonates with the attribution aspect, the analysis focuses on the entire Kajiado County with the assumption that Amref rolled out CLARP in the whole of Kajiado County, though this was not the case

Summary

Introduction

Female genital mutilation/cutting: Context, evidence and policy issues. Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) is a global concern, in Africa and the Middle East [1,2]. The prevalence has started to wane, especially in Africa, recent data reveal that FGM/C is still practised as a social norm and remains persistent and ubiquitous across countries. Countries have made strides in designing strategies, plans, policies and in passing laws against the practice in addition to resource mobilisation to support the efforts to eradicate FGM/C. Statistics show global estimates of roughly 200 million women and girls who have undergone the FGM/C practise [4]. In Sub-Sahara Africa, approximately three million girls undergo FGM/C practice every year and half of the countries that practise FGM/C cut girls before the age of 5 while in other countries cutting occurs between 5 and 14 years of age [1,5]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion