Output details

Pilot toolkit for replacing approaches to ending FGM in the EU : implementing behaviour change with practising communities

Background/Research Aims

The aim of this research, which was funded by Daphne III, was to research female genital mutilation (FGM) affected communities in the EU to understand why the practice of FGM persists in the EU despite many years of campaigning to end this illegal practice. The aim was to produce a behavioural change model that could be applied to ending FGM in the EU.

Research Design and Methods

The research was undertaken using community-based participatory action research methods to collect rich qualitative information. The research focussed on the Somali and Sudanese communities in the Netherlands and UK. Using community researchers, focus groups were undertaken with men and women separately in the selected communities, representing a range of ages, marital status and length of time resident in the EU. This was followed by narrative studies with individuals to elicit more indepth information concerning the belief systems surrounding the practice of FGM and to understand the complex interrelationship between the individual and the community in terms of the perpetuation of the practice. The information was analysed using nvivo. A sample of campaigns/interventions aimed at ending FGM was also analysed to assess the adoption of behavioural change models. The research findings were then mapped against various behavioural change theories. As a result the research provided a new cyclic framework based on behaviour change concepts for tackling the practice of FGM in the EU.

Dissemination

The REPLACE Framework Cyclic Model, provides a new approach to tackling FGM in the EU that is community-focussed, culturally sensitive and empowers individuals and communities to work together to end the practice of FGM. This is available as a toolkit that is freely available for download on www.replacefgm.eu.