Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

ACC 2024 Congress

Catch up on all the top stories and latest evidence in cardiology research with our ACC 2024 Congress hub page.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Reproductive Health
Published in: Reproductive Health 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Review

Effectiveness of health education as an intervention designed to prevent female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C): a systematic review

Authors: Susan Waigwa, Lucy Doos, Caroline Bradbury-Jones, Julie Taylor

Published in: Reproductive Health | Issue 1/2018

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) is a harmful practice that violates the human rights of women and girls. Despite global efforts to restrict the practice, there have been few reports on major positive changes to the problem. Health education interventions have been successful in preventing various health conditions and promoting service use. They have also been regarded as promising interventions for preventing FGM/C. The objective of this systematic review is to synthesise findings of studies about effectiveness of health education as an intervention to prevent FGM/C.

Methods

The electronic databases searched were MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane library, Web of Science, Psych INFO, CINAHL and ASSIA. Our search included papers published in the English language without date limits. Study quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). A predesigned data recording form was used to extract data from the included studies which were summarised by comparing similar themes.

Results

Twelve out of 359 individual studies met our inclusion criteria. Seven studies were quantitative, three were qualitative and two used mixed methods. Six studies tested before and after the interventions, four studies assessed the effectiveness of previous interventions used by different research teams and two studies endorsed the intervention. Four main factors emerged and were associated with facilitating or hindering the effectiveness of health education interventions: sociodemographic factors; socioeconomic factors; traditions and beliefs; and intervention strategy, structure and delivery.

Conclusions

It is vital to target factors associated with facilitating or hindering the effectiveness of health education for FGM/C. This increases the possibility of effective, collective change in behaviour and attitude which leads to the sustainable prevention of FGM/C and ultimately the improved reproductive health and well-being of individuals and communities.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
UNICEF. Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: A statistical overview and exploration of the dynamics of change. New York: UNICEF; 2013.
2.
3.
Khosla R, Banerjee J, Chou D, Say L, Fried ST. Gender equality and human rights approaches to female genital mutilation: a review of international human rights norms and standards. Reprod Health. 2017;14(1):59.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
4.
5.
Maurice J, Khanna J. WHO: Female genital mutilation: New knowledge spurs optimism. World Health Organisation; 2006.
6.
Goldberg H, Stupp P, Okoroh E, Besera G, Goodman D, Danel I. Female genital mutilation/cutting in the United States: Updated estimates of women and girls at risk, 2012. Public Health Rep. 2016;131(2):340–7.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
7.
Macfarlane A, Dorkenoo E. Prevalence of female genital mutilation in England and Wales: National and local estimates. 2015.
8.
Berg RC, Denison EM-L, Fretheim A: Psychological, social and sexual consequences of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C): a systematic review of quantitative studies. 2010.
9.
Berg RC, Underland V, Odgaard-Jensen J, Fretheim A, Vist GE. Effects of female genital cutting on physical health outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ open. 2014;4(11):e006316.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
10.
Mwanri L, Gatwiri GJ. Injured bodies, damaged lives: experiences and narratives of Kenyan women with obstetric fistula and Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting. Reprod Health. 2017;14(1):38.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
11.
WHO study group on female genital mutilation and obstetric outcome, Banks E, Meirik O, Farley T, Akande O, et al. Female genital mutilation and obstetric outcome: WHO collaborative prospective study in six African countries. Lancet. 2006;367(9525):1835–41.CrossRef
12.
HMGovernment. Female genital mutilation: Multi agency practice guidelines. Crown; 2011.
13.
Edouard E, Olatunbosun O, Edouard L. International efforts on abandoning female genital mutilation. Afr J Urol. 2013;19(3):150–3.CrossRef
14.
WHO, UNICEF: Female genital mutilation: a joint WHO/UNICEF/UNFPA statement: World Health Organization; 1997.
15.
Berg RC, Denison EM-L, Fretheim A: Factors promoting and hindering the practice of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). 2010.
16.
17.
18.
Berg RC, Odgaard-Jensen J, Fretheim A, Underland V, Vist G. An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of the obstetric consequences of female genital mutilation/cutting. Obstet Gynecol Int. 2014;2014:542859.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
19.
20.
WHO. Health education: theoretical concepts, effective strategies and core competencies: a foundation document to guide capacity development of health educators. 2012.
21.
Ghrayeb FA, Rusli AM, Al Rifai A, Ismail IM. The impact of education program on smoking prevention: an intervention study among 16 to 18 years old in Palestine. Pak J Nutr. 2013;12(8):782.CrossRef
22.
Adekunle S. Effects of health education on cigarette smoking habits of young adults in tertiary institutions in a northern Nigerian state. Health Sci J. 2011;5(3).
23.
Singh D, Negin J, Orach CG, Cumming R. Supportive supervision for volunteers to deliver reproductive health education: a cluster randomized trial. Reprod Health. 2016;13(1):126.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
24.
Bornstein MH, Cote LR, Haynes OM, Hahn C-S, Park Y. Parenting Knowledge: Experiential and Sociodemographic Factors in European American Mothers of Young Children. Dev Psychol. 2010;46(6):1677–93.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
25.
Richard F, Ahmed W, Denholm N, Dawson A, Varol N, Essén B, Johnsdotter S, Bukuluki P, Ahmed W, Naeema AGH, et al. Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: sharing data and experiences to accelerate eradication and improve care: part 2. Reprod Health. 2017;14(2):115.CrossRefPubMedCentral
26.
27.
Yang L, Sahlqvist S, McMinn A, Griffin SJ, Ogilvie D. Interventions to promote cycling: systematic review. BMJ. 2010;341:c5293.
28.
* Babalola S, Brasington A, Agbasimalo A, Helland A, Nwanguma E, Onah N. Impact of a communication programme on female genital cutting in eastern Nigeria. Trop Med Int Health. 2006;11(10):1594–603.CrossRefPubMed
29.
* Asekun-Olarinmoye EO, Amusan OA. The impact of health education on attitudes towards female genital mutilation (FGM) in a rural Nigerian community. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care. 2008;13(3):289–97.CrossRefPubMed
30.
* Chege J, Askew I, Igras S, Mutesh JK. Testing the effectiveness of integrating community-based approaches for encouraging abandonment of female genital cutting into CARE’s reproductive health programs in Ethiopia and Kenya. Washington, DC: Population Council; 2004.
31.
* Diop NJ, Askew I. The effectiveness of a community-based education program on abandoning female genital mutilation cutting in Senegal. Stud Fam Plann. 2009;40(4):307–18.CrossRefPubMed
32.
* Jacoby S, Lucarelli M, Musse F, Krishnamurthy A, Salyers V. A Mixed-Methods Study of Immigrant Somali Women’s Health Literacy and Perinatal Experiences in Maine. J Midwifery Womens Health. 2015;60(5):593.CrossRefPubMed
33.
* Mounir GM, Mahdy NH, Fatohy IM. Impact of health education program about reproductive health on knowledge and attitude of female Alexandria University students. J Egypt Public Health Assoc. 2002;78(5–6):433–66.
34.
* Allam MF, de Irala-Estevez J, Navajas RFC, del Castillo AS, Hoashi JS, Pankovich MB, Liceaga JR. Factors associated with the condoning of female genital mutilation among university students. Public Health. 2001;115(5):350–5.CrossRefPubMed
35.
* Awuah JB. Female genital mutilation: a study in Aboabo, a suburb of Kumasi, Ghana. West Afr J Nurs. 2008;19(1):26–32. 27p
36.
* Olaitan OL. Knowledge of female genital cutting among parents in south west Nigeria. Transl Biomed. 2010;1(2).
37.
* Ruiz IJ, Martinez PA, Bravo MDP. Key points for abolishing Female Genital Mutilation from the perspective of the men involved. Midwifery. 2016;34:30–5.CrossRefPubMed
38.
* Ajuwon AJ, Brieger WR, Oladepo O, Adeniyi JD. Indigenous surgical practices in rural southwestern Nigeria: Implications for disease prevention. Health Educ Res. 1995;10(3):379–84.CrossRef
39.
* Alo OA, Gbadebo B. Intergenerational Attitude Changes Regarding Female Genital Cutting in Nigeria. J Womens Health. 2011;20(11):1655–61.CrossRef
40.
Berg RC, Denison EM. A realist synthesis of controlled studies to determine the effectiveness of interventions to prevent genital cutting of girls. Paediatr Int Child Health. 2013;33(4):322–33.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
41.
Berg RC, Denison E. Effectiveness of interventions designed to prevent female genital mutilation/cutting: a systematic review. Stud Fam Plann. 2012;43(2):135–46.CrossRefPubMed
42.
Li AT-W, Wong JP-H, Cain R, Fung KP-L. Engaging African-Caribbean, Asian, and Latino community leaders to address HIV stigma in Toronto. Int J Migr Health Soc Care. 2016;12(4):288–300.CrossRef
43.
Bernstein D. Essentials of psychology: Cengage Learning; 2013.
44.
Hendriks H, Bvd P, de Bruijn G-J. Subjective reality: the influence of perceived and objective conversational valence on binge drinking determinants. J Health Commun. 2015;20(7):859–66.CrossRefPubMed
45.
Yzer M. The integrative model of behavioral prediction as a tool for designing health messages. Health Commun. 2012:21–40.
46.
Michie S, van Stralen MM, West R. The behaviour change wheel: a new method for characterising and designing behaviour change interventions. Implement Sci. 2011;6(1):42.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
47.
Tan CN-L, Ramayah T. The role of motivators in improving knowledge-sharing among academics. Inf Res. 2014;19(1):n1.
48.
Jass G, Massey DS. Immigrant health: selectivity and acculturation. In: IFS Working Papers, Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS); 2004.
49.
Boyle EH, Corl AC. Law and culture in a global context: Interventions to eradicate female genital cutting. Annu Rev Law Soc Sci. 2010;6:195–215.CrossRef
50.
Yoder PS, Abderrahim N, Zhuzhuni A. Female genital cutting in the Demographic and Health Surveys: a critical and comparative analysis. 2004.
51.
Easton P, Monkman K, Miles R. Social policy from the bottom up: abandoning FGC in sub-Saharan Africa. Dev Pract. 2003;13(5):445–58.CrossRef
52.
Jackson EF, Akweongo P, Sakeah E, Hodgson A, Asuru R, Phillips JF. Inconsistent reporting of female genital cutting status in northern Ghana: Explanatory factors and analytical consequences. Stud Fam Plann. 2003;34(3):200–10.CrossRefPubMed
53.
Ahlberg BM, Krantz I, Lindmark G, Warsame M. ‘It’s only a tradition’: making sense of eradication interventions and the persistence of female ‘circumcision’ within a Swedish context. Crit Soc Policy. 2004;24(1):50–78.CrossRef
54.
Yount KM, Carrera JS. Female genital cutting and reproductive experience in Minya, Egypt. Med Anthropol Q. 2006;20(2):182–211.CrossRefPubMed
55.
Abdulcadir J, Say L, Pallitto C. What do we know about assessing healthcare students and professionals’ knowledge, attitude and practice regarding female genital mutilation? A systematic review. Reprod Health. 2017;14(1):64.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
56.
Ihara E. Cultural Competence in Health Care: Is it Important for People with Chronic Conditions? Center on an Aging Society; 2004.
Metadata
Title
Effectiveness of health education as an intervention designed to prevent female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C): a systematic review
Authors
Susan Waigwa
Lucy Doos
Caroline Bradbury-Jones
Julie Taylor
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Reproductive Health / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1742-4755
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-018-0503-x

Other articles of this Issue 1/2018

Reproductive Health 1/2018 Go to the issue

Research

A survival analysis of the timing of onset of childbearing among young females in Nigeria: are predictors the same across regions?

Research

Determinants of uterine rupture among cases of Adama city public and private hospitals, Oromia, Ethiopia: a case control study

Research

Associations of gestational weight gain with offspring thinness and obesity: by prepregnancy body mass index

Commentary

The political dimension of sexual rights.

Review

Effectiveness of respectful care policies for women using routine intrapartum services: a systematic review

Research

Health and sustainable development; strengthening peri-operative care in low income countries to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes