Tugen Men and Women’s Perception on FGM in Relation to their Participation in Household and Community Socioeconomic Development Activities in Baringo County.

Abstract

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is the partial or total cutting away of the female genitalia, which has been practiced for centuries in parts of Africa and other regions of the world as one element of a rite of passage.  An investigation of the Tugen men and women’s perception on FGM in relation to their participation in household and community socioeconomic development activities in Baringo County shaded light upon numerous obstacles to its elimination. There was a gap in the analysis of the factors contributing to persistence of FGM among Tugen women of Baringo County as it had not been empirically investigated. The purpose of this study was to establish Tugen Men and Women’s Perception on FGM in Relation to their Participation in Household and Community Socioeconomic Development Activities in Baringo County. The study adopted the ex post facto-causal comparative research design. The study was conducted in three divisions namely Kisanana, Mogotio and Esageri in Koibatek district in Baringo County. The selection of these divisions was based on the information provided by the District Health Management Team to the effect that these were the divisions where the practice of FGM was likely to be high. Purposive and quota sampling was used in selecting participants in the area of study. The research data was collected using questionnaires and an interview schedule. Piloting of the instruments was done at Marigat division in Marigat district in Baringo County to provide the required information on its reliability and establish the time taken to administer the instruments in order to make necessary modifications and adjustments before commencing data collection in the field. The questionnaires’ items were considered reliable after yielding a reliability coefficient of at least 0.70. The data collected were analyzed by use of descriptive and inferential statistics. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17 for windows was used to analyze the data. The study generated information regarding the Tugen men and women perception of FGM among Tugen women of Baringo County.  Marriage of circumcised or uncircumcised women greatly influenced men and women participation in household and community socioeconomic development activities in the Tugen community. Most men (67) 67% indicated they preferred to marry circumcised women because culturally they would become respected member of the community. The findings from the study might also help Ministry of Gender and Social services, Government of Kenya and local community leaders to take serious the fight against FGM practice and look for strategies to eliminate it.