Female Genital Mutilation: A Religio-Cultural Sensitive Issue Determining Maternal Health Care Choices among Somali Women in Dadaab Refugee Camp, Kenya
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Date
2022-08
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Publisher
ESI Preprints
Abstract
The paper addresses Kenya’s development challenges in maternal
health care with a specific focus on the impact of traditional birth attendants
(TBAs) and female genital mutilation (FGM) among the refugees. It
purposes to achieve four objectives: to discuss the persistence of FGM
among Somali women in Ifo Refugee Camp, to establish the hospital process
of providing maternal health care to mothers who have gone through FGM;
find out the level of preparedness of the midwives to handle mothers with
religio- cultural concerns such as prayer, non-involvement of male nurses
and how the practice of FGM contributes to the preference of TBA by
mothers. The study assumes that midwives’ training may not have
effectively addressed FGM, a social-cultural sensitive issue affecting
childbirth and care. Secondly, the specific support of midwives in refugee
camps contexts remains limited. A qualitative research approach was used in the study, involving Snowballing sampling method, in-depth interviews, and
focus group discussions (FGDs). These methods brought out pertinent issues
that make TBAs the preferential option for some mothers in spite of the
presence of level 4 category hospitals in the refugee camps. In case of birth
complications, the mother’s choice for TBA delays the family’s decision to
take her to the hospital and for health care workers to save mother and child.
The shortage of midwives and the presence of male midwives in hospitals
make some Somali mothers seek assistance from TBAs. There is a need to
contextualize midwifery training by enhancing the curriculum with evidencebased /mother-centered skills
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Citation
Gitome, J., Kahumbi, N., Mainah, M., Kituku, J. M., Mwoma, T., Ndegwa, P., & Bagelman, J. (2022). Female Genital Mutilation: A Religio-Cultural Sensitive Issue Determining Maternal Health Care Choices among Somali Women in Dadaab Refugee Camp, Kenya. ESI Preprints, 8, 209-209.