SOCIO-CULTURAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS FOR THE PERSISTENCE OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION IN THE SOMALI REGIONAL STATE OF ETHIOPIA: THE CASE OF KEBRIBEYAH TOWN, FAFEN ZONE

Abstract

Female genital mutilation has been recognized as a violation of human rights of girls and women however FGM still practiced in Ethiopia Somali region based on socio- cultural and Institutional factors. The aim of this study was to assess the socio-cultural and institutional factors for the Persistence of Female Genital Mutilation in Somali regional state considering the case of Kebribeyah town, Fafen Zone. The study adopted a mixed research design. A sample of 332 respondents, of which 290 females and 42 males, aged 18-59 years, were drawn from two kebeles of Kebribeyah using random sampling technique. Besides, key informant interview and focus group discussion were employed to gathered data. Purposive sampling technique was used so as to select respondents. Statistical analysis was done using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) Version 20. Major findings revealed that whole female population or 100 % of them included in the study were practicing female genital mutilation in the study area, i.e. Kebribeyah town. When we consider the whole respondents males and females) many of them, i.e. 173(about 52%) cited “Religion” as the most important social factor that preserved FGM in the study area. The most accepted cultural factors preserving the practice were that it was done in order to get females ready for marriage, i.e. it is culturally a pre-requisite for marriage, as the traditional norm. Additionally there are formal institutions for ending up the practice and this has resulted to some extent of intervention in a declining of the practice by government control and active NGOs both nationally and locally. The study concluded that FGM is still being practiced in the communities studied and actually, they encourage its continuity. The study recommends more sensitization campaign on the social structures supporting the practice