Peer-reviewed article
Female Genital Mutilation: Why it is Difficult to Stop it in Tanzania?
Rehema Horera John ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study investigates why female genital mutilation (FGM) persists in Tanzania despite efforts to end it. The research identifies key barriers to eliminating the practice, including social-cultural norms, economic factors, patriarchal systems, religious beliefs, and lack of education about health harms. The study uses literature review, document analysis, and observation to understand these obstacles. The findings suggest that addressing FGM requires comprehensive, sustainable interventions across multiple social domains.
Key points
- Social-cultural factors have a strong link to the persistence of FGM practice in Tanzania
- Economic factors contribute to the continuation of FGM
- Patriarchal and religious factors are significant barriers to ending the practice
- Lack of education and knowledge about negative health effects of FGM hinders elimination efforts
- Current FGM fighters face multiple challenges in their work
Limitations
This is a literature review and observational study without empirical data collection from affected populations or programme participants, so it cannot provide evidence about what interventions actually work or the extent of the problem. The document does not provide specific prevalence data, cost-benefit analyses, or evaluation results from implemented programmes.
Abstract
Abstract: Female genital mutilation or female circumcision is a global public health problem. It is recognized as a gender based violence which affects millions of girls and women’s health. It is estimated to be the longest female violence practice in the World. Tanzania is among thirty African countries which practicing female circumcision. This study aimed to investigate factors that hindering the initiatives of ending female genital mutilation practice in Tanzania. The study used literature sources, document analysis and observation method to collect relevant information which used to generate the results and conclusion of this study. Results revealed that, social-cultural factors, economic factors, patriarchal factors, religious factors and lack of education and knowledge on the negative effects of the female circumcision, have a strong link with the long persistence of the practice, hence hindering the initiatives of ending female genital mutilation in the society. The study disclosed the current challenges facing female circumcision fighters, thus, the study suggested the sustainable intervention which will assist to close the female genital mutilation chapter globally.