ArticlePloS one2019
The Saleema initiative in Sudan to abandon female genital mutilation: Outcomes and dose response effects.
Article in PloS one, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Effectiveness of health education intervention on intention not to perform female genital mutilation/cutting in the future among key decision-makers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC women's health · 2024Pooled it
- Economic burden of female genital mutilation in 27 high-prevalence countries.BMJ global health · 2022Pooled it
- Effect of a Gender-Synchronized Family Planning Intervention on Inequitable Gender Norms in a Cluster Randomized Control Trial Among Husbands of Married Adolescent Girls in Dosso, Niger.Violence against women · 2026Trial
- How community dialogues influence norm change around female genital mutilation: a mediation analysis from a high-burden Kenyan setting.BMJ global health · 2026Article
- Universal Female Genital Mutilation and High Burden of Infibulation in Mogadishu: Cross-Sectional Study on Severity, Types, and Associated Factors Among Adolescent Girls in Somalia.Health science reports · 2026Article
- Entertainment Media and Gender Norm Transformation Interventions for Young Women and Girls in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Impact of the Stopcut project on the practice of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in Southwest Nigeria: a quasi-experimental study.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Six aspects of female genital mutilation education (SAFE) model: findings from a qualitative study.BMJ open · 2024Article
- Recurrent urethral obstruction secondary to large vulval inclusion cyst: a remote complication of female genital mutilation: a case report.BMC women's health · 2023Article
- What interventions are effective to prevent or respond to female genital mutilation? A review of existing evidence from 2008-2020.PLOS global public health · 2023Article
- A hybrid, effectiveness-implementation research study protocol targeting antenatal care providers to provide female genital mutilation prevention and care services in Guinea, Kenya and Somalia.BMC health services research · 2021Article
- Women's Empowerment as It Relates to Attitudes Towards and Practice of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting of Daughters: An Ecological Analysis of Demographic and Health Surveys From 12 African Countries.Frontiers in sociology · 2021Article
- Understanding the association between parental attitudes and the practice of female genital mutilation among daughters.PloS one · 2020Article
- TheInternational journal of environmental research and public health · 2019Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeThe overall goal of the Saleema Initiative in Sudan is to promote long-term abandonment of female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM) through a contribution to changing social norms, attitudes, and intentions related to the practice. The initiative aims to create positive cultural associations with a girl remaining uncut, a new social norm. Saleema hypothesizes that branding the alternative to FGM (abandonment) will promote social norms change. In 2014, the lead author designed a monitoring and evaluation framework for Saleema in partnership with UNICEF, the National Council for Child Welfare (NCCW), and local organizations.
methodsThe Saleema evaluation aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the campaign in reducing pro-FGM social norms. A quasi-experimental design controlled for dosage of campaign messages delivered across the 18 states in Sudan to measure a dose-response effect. We operationalized social norms through a 4-item scale validated in previous research.
resultsThis paper reports on quantitative evaluation findings based on data gathered in from 2015-2017 and focuses on the dose-response relationship between Saleema exposure and changes in FGM social norms. We found that self-reported exposure was associated with reduced pro-FGM social norms (coeff. = -0.329, p < .001). Additionally, higher doses of Saleema, measured through an exogenous measure of campaign event exposure from an independent monitoring system was associated with reduced pro-FGM social norms (coeff. = -0.146, p < .001).
conclusionsSaleema was effective in reducing pro-FGM social norms. It is a promising strategy and findings contribute to the growing literature on social norms approaches to behavior change.
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