A realist synthesis of controlled studies to determine the effectiveness of interventions to prevent genital cutting of girls
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Authors
Berg, Rigmor C.
Denison, Eva M.
Issue Date
2013-11
Type
Article
Language
en_US
Keywords
Female Genital Mutilation , Female Genital Cutting , Female Circumcision , Prevention , Realist Synthesis , Systematic Review
Alternative Title
Abstract
Background: Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is a traditional practice which involves the partial or total removal or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. Although current trends indicate that the practice is becoming less prevalent, as many as 30 million girls may still be at risk of FGM/C. Given the associated risks and violation of the human rights of girls and women, the practice is discouraged through preventative interventions.
Aims: To systematically review the effectiveness of anti-FGM/C interventions, applying a realist perspective.
Methods: The realist synthesis approach addressed context-mechanisms-outcomes (CMO) underlying intervention in an attempt to explain interventions’ success or lack thereof. The process involved exposed the usefulness of strategies in different contexts.
Results: Eight effectiveness studies and 27 context studies were included. All of the effectiveness studies employed a controlled, before-and-after study design. They formed five broad categories of intervention: training, formal classroom education, media communication, outreach and advocacy, and informal adult education. The CMO configurations showed that the proposed engine behind changing behaviours regarding FGM/C appeared largely to be dissemination of information. Some interventions’ acceptability and success rested on the incorporation of FGM/C abandonment efforts within a larger set of related issues. However, greater success of the interventions could have materialised with systematic pre-planning involving thorough community analyses and securing religious leaders’ commitment to halting FGM/C.
Conclusion: The results of this analysis point to conditions that facilitate the success of FGM/C abandonment programmes in different contexts and can be used in future prevention efforts to reduce the risk of girls being subjected to FGM/C.
Description
Citation
Berg, R. C., & Denison, E. M. (2013). A realist synthesis of controlled studies to determine the effectiveness of interventions to prevent genital cutting of girls. Paediatrics and international child health, 33(4), 322–333. https://doi.org/10.1179/2046905513Y.0000000086
Publisher
Paediatrics and International Child Health