Factors influencing growth of female genital mutilation among Orma and Wardei communities in Tana river county, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the factors influencing the growth of female genital mutilation among Orma and Wardei communities in TRC. The study limitation is the financial constraint and high level of literacy among the sampling population. The objective of the study is to establish the contribution of family honour, marriagibilty, control of sexual desire, religious requirement and social identity contribution to female genital mutilation. This research was conducted through a descriptive research design. The research investigated the target population of 18,545 through selection of sample to analyze and discover occurrences. The study targets females including girls and women, the researcher also organized Focus group discussion (FGD) and also talked to key informants. Data was analyzed nominal scales into mutually exclusive categories and frequencies by employing descriptive statistics using (SPSS V.2O.O). The focus group discussion and key informants contribution were included in the report as a narrative description of what was said by the participants. The major findings of the research is that the studied community largely undergo type three method of FGM also known as infibulation and FGM continue unabated with almost 95% of the Orma and Wardei girls still undergo FGM. The study concludes that culture and social identity and control of sexual desire are major factors behind the unabated FGM practice within the Orma and the Wardei communities. The study will immensely contribute to the understanding of FGM practice in the communities. The research recommends that the communities should be given enough information on the problems of FGM and disassociating FGM from religious and this awareness should largely target the local woman who carry out circumcision and target the whole community because FGM is not an individual problem but a societal problem. From this research, many anti-FGM campaigners, CBOs, policy makers and key influencers will contribute immensely. The research findings would help facilitate local networking to enable information sharing, education and increased awareness of key issues, enabling local NGOs to be part of a greater voice to end FGM locally.