Using Ethnographic Participatory Action Research to Decrease the Incidence of Female Genital Mutilation in Nigeria

The Efficacy of Ethnographic Participatory Action Research In Decreasing the Incidence of Female Genital Mutilation in Nigeria

Female Genital Mutilation(FGM) is a harmful practice on girls and women which causes irreparable sexual, reproductive and psychological harm. It is an act of violence, extreme discrimination and fundamental human rights violation against women and girls. This practice leaves victims feeling scared, psychologically scarred and distressed. FGM sustains deep rooted inequality between the sexes, constitutes a barrier to female civic participation and social inclusion and therefore, leads to inequitable socio- economic growth and prosperity. The World Health Organization(WHO) estimates that an alarming 200 million girls alive today have undergone FGM, while an estimated 3 million girls are at risk annually. A common factor influencing the continuation of FGM is the need to conform to social norms. Social norms among other roles, influence behaviors that shape people's ability to protect their health and achieve their life potential.

Methods: The investigators have designed a quasi-experimental comparison group pre-post test study involving members of Oduma, Okigwe, Nkerefi, Edda communities in Eastern Nigeria. Our study will run for a period of 12 months. The investigators expect that the outcome of this study will lead to policy changes placing emphasis on using participatory action research in addressing FGM in Nigeria.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Behavior, Social
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Participatory Action Research

Detailed Description

FGM is a harmful practice on girls and women which causes irreparable sexual, reproductive and psychological harm. It is an act of violence, extreme discrimination and fundamental human rights violation against women and girls. This practice leaves victims feeling scared, psychologically scarred and distressed. FGM sustains deep rooted inequality between the sexes, constitutes a barrier to female civic participation and social inclusion and therefore, leads to inequitable socio- economic growth and prosperity. The WHO estimates that an alarming 200 million girls alive today have undergone FGM, while an estimated 3 million girls are at risk annually. A common factor influencing the continuation of FGM is the need to conform to social norms. Social norms among other roles, influence behaviors that shape people's ability to protect their health and achieve their life potential.

Methods: The investigators have designed a quasi-experimental comparison group pre-post test study involving members of Oduma community in Ebonyi state. This research study will run for a period of 12 months. The investigators expect that the outcome of this study will lead to policy changes placing emphasis on using participatory action research in addressing FGM in Nigeria

Rationale There is a considerable lack of information on the efficacy of interventions to reduce the prevalence of FGM in Nigeria. In addition, this research study is needed to provide critical updated information on the efficacy of participatory action research in improving communities knowledge and attitude towards SHRH and how this affects the prevalence of FGM.

Objectives:

To determine the efficacy of e- PAR in reducing the incidence of FGM in Nigeria.

To determine the efficacy of e-PAR in improving Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights(SRHR) knowledge.

To determine the efficacy of e-PAR in improving Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) attitudes.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 3000
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Emmanuel Ihedioha, MD; Phone Number: 23407038861841 23407038861841; Email: emmanuel.ihedioha@lifespanhcr.com

Study Locations

• Nigeria
  • Ebonyi
    • Oduma, Ebonyi, Nigeria
      • Recruiting
      • Oduma
      • Contact: Joy Amanze

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 1 year to 59 years (Child, Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Consenting Participants living in the intervention communities.
• Consenting community health workers working in the intervention communities.
• Consenting patent medicine sellers working in the intervention communities.

Exclusion Criteria:

-

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: E-PAR Arm; Exposed to media, information and communication technology through ethnographic participatory action research.	Behavioral: Participatory Action Research; The research will employ a Participatory Action research quasi-experimental pre-post test study design .

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Incidence of Female Genital mutilation Secondary to Ethnographic Participatory Action Research(PAR) Intervention.	Number of Cut Girls secondary to PAR Intervention.	12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Lifespan Healthcare Resource Limited
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Emmanuel Ihedioha, MD, Lifespan Heathcare Resource

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 30, 2019
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): June 30, 2020
• Study Completion (Anticipated): June 30, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 2, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 2, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): October 3, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 7, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 3, 2019
• Last Verified: October 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: ST-POC-1908-25739

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No