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Perceptions and experiences of female genital mutilation after immigration to Sweden: An explorative study

Isman, Elisabeth ; Ekeus, Cecilia and Berggren, Vanja LU (2013) In Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare 4(3). p.93-98
Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study is to explore how women from part of the world where female genital mutilation (FGM) is normative perceive and experience FGM after immigrating to Sweden. Method: Interviews were conducted with eight women from Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: The women's feelings were ambivalent: though they opposed FGM, on the one hand, because of its negative effects on health, they acknowledged the practice's positive cultural aspects on the other hand. The themes that emerged from the interviews are the role of FGM in ensuring virginity and protecting a family's honor, its role in avoiding shame and enhancing purity, social pressure experienced after... (More)
Aim: The aim of this study is to explore how women from part of the world where female genital mutilation (FGM) is normative perceive and experience FGM after immigrating to Sweden. Method: Interviews were conducted with eight women from Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: The women's feelings were ambivalent: though they opposed FGM, on the one hand, because of its negative effects on health, they acknowledged the practice's positive cultural aspects on the other hand. The themes that emerged from the interviews are the role of FGM in ensuring virginity and protecting a family's honor, its role in avoiding shame and enhancing purity, social pressure experienced after immigration, an understanding of FGM as a symbol of the country of origin, and support for changing the tradition. Conclusion: These findings indicate that women originating from communities where FGM is normative live in a context in which the practice is viewed as an important aspect of life even after immigration. More research concerning this complex and deeply rooted cultural issue is recommended. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Female genital mutilation, Midwife, Ethics, Prevalence
in
Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare
volume
4
issue
3
pages
93 - 98
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • wos:000325387700003
  • scopus:84883745108
  • pmid:24041729
ISSN
1877-5764
DOI
10.1016/j.srhc.2013.04.004
project
Promoting early childhood health; supporting parents, vulnerable children and challenged families
LUC3 - Lund University Child Centered Care
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b0a1455f-3607-453c-b5ac-3992f552ca42 (old id 4166456)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 09:58:14
date last changed
2022-04-04 01:05:22
@article{b0a1455f-3607-453c-b5ac-3992f552ca42,
  abstract     = {{Aim: The aim of this study is to explore how women from part of the world where female genital mutilation (FGM) is normative perceive and experience FGM after immigrating to Sweden. Method: Interviews were conducted with eight women from Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: The women's feelings were ambivalent: though they opposed FGM, on the one hand, because of its negative effects on health, they acknowledged the practice's positive cultural aspects on the other hand. The themes that emerged from the interviews are the role of FGM in ensuring virginity and protecting a family's honor, its role in avoiding shame and enhancing purity, social pressure experienced after immigration, an understanding of FGM as a symbol of the country of origin, and support for changing the tradition. Conclusion: These findings indicate that women originating from communities where FGM is normative live in a context in which the practice is viewed as an important aspect of life even after immigration. More research concerning this complex and deeply rooted cultural issue is recommended. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.}},
  author       = {{Isman, Elisabeth and Ekeus, Cecilia and Berggren, Vanja}},
  issn         = {{1877-5764}},
  keywords     = {{Female genital mutilation; Midwife; Ethics; Prevalence}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{93--98}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare}},
  title        = {{Perceptions and experiences of female genital mutilation after immigration to Sweden: An explorative study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2013.04.004}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.srhc.2013.04.004}},
  volume       = {{4}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}