An Assessment of the Alternative Rites Approach for Encouraging Abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation in Kenya

The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of USAID. DEDICATION The late Leah Muuya (died December 2000) has left an invaluable imprint in the struggle to free young girls from the practice of Female Genital Mutilation. As Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organisation's (MYWO) Programme Officer for Harmful Traditional Practices, Leah spearheaded activities related to the alternative rites of passage. Her enthusiasm and willingness to work with various communities in seeking to influence change of attitudes and behaviour made a great impact in the success of the programme. As a tribute to her, we dedicate the work contained in this report to her to commemorate her contribution to the eradication of this practice, on behalf of all the young girls she enabled to find hope despite the clutch of culture. SUMMARY Maendeleo Ya Wanawake (MYWO), with technical assistance from the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), has been implementing an Alternative Rite of passage programme as part of its efforts to eradicate the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in five districts in Kenya. Although the approach has been implemented since 1996, and is a continuation of anti-FGM efforts that started a few years earlier, the approach itself has not yet been systematically documented or assessed. This study addressed the factors that influence some families and individuals to adopt the alternative rite while others, exposed to the same messages discouraging FGM, decide not to. It also evaluated the effect of the training component of the Alternative Rite on the girls who participated. The study was undertaken in three districts (Tharaka, Narok, and Gucha), where MYWO/PATH have been implementing the approach and which cover four ethnic groups. A comparison was made of knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning FGM and reproductive health among households and individuals who had participated in the alternative rite and those who had not. Data were collected through 37 focus group discussions, 53 key informant in-depth interviews, a household survey of 634 parents, 1,068 girls and 364 boys, and nine case studies of families who have participated in the Alternative Rite. FGM practices vary among the four sites. Type 1 (clitoridectomy) and Type 2 (excision) are practised in all four sites. There are indications of changes in the way FGM is practised in all sites, and particularly a move towards reducing the harm caused through medicalisation, particularly in the predominantly …