ArticleBMC international health and human rights2020
Exploring barriers to seeking health care among Kenyan Somali women with female genital mutilation: a qualitative study.
Article in BMC international health and human rights, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 20 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
20 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 48 citations in OpenAlex.
- A Systematic Review of Criminal Justice Initiatives to Strengthen the Criminal Investigation and Prosecution of Sexual Violence in East Africa.Trauma, violence & abuse · 2024Pooled it
- Economic burden of female genital mutilation in 27 high-prevalence countries.BMJ global health · 2022Pooled it
- 'It Was Surprising in a Bad Way': The Experiences of Children/Adolescents With Dental Avulsion and Their Family in New Zealand.Dental traumatology : official publication of International Association for Dental Traumatology · 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
- Article
- "Frontiers in global women's health · 2026Article
- Lived experiences and impacts of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C): a meta-ethnographic synthesis.BMJ public health · 2026Article
- Factors associated with female genital mutilation/cutting in Tanzania: insights from Tanzania demographic and health survey 2022.BMC women's health · 2025Article
- Prevalence and determinants of female genital mutilation: current insights from ten at-risk countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Female genital mutilation: trends, economic burden of delay and basis for public health interventions.International journal for equity in health · 2024Article
- Factors Linked to Female Genital Mutilation Practice Among Women Living In Alungu Village of Mandera County, Kenya.The East African health research journal · 2023Article
- "You must cut that long and stinking thing": uncovering the lived experiences of uncircumcised pokot women in North-Eastern Uganda.BMC women's health · 2022Article
- Quality of services offered to women with female genital mutilation across health facilities in a Kenyan County.BMC health services research · 2022Article
- Socio-cultural barriers to the delivery and utilisation of child healthcare services in rural Ghana: a qualitative study.BMC health services research · 2022Article
- Female genital mutilation and skilled birth attendance among women in sub-Saharan Africa.BMC women's health · 2022Article
- Factors Influencing the Efficiency of Public Hospitals in Saudi Arabia: A Qualitative Study Exploring Stakeholders' Perspectives and Suggestions for Improvement.Frontiers in public health · 2022Article
- Trends and Determinants of Female Genital Mutilation in Ethiopia: Multilevel Analysis of 2000, 2005 and 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys.International journal of women's health · 2021Article
- Experiences from the Field: A Qualitative Study Exploring Barriers to Maternal and Child Health Service Utilization in IDP Settings Somalia.International journal of women's health · 2021Article
- Clinical Features Associated with Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: A Pilot Longitudinal Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2020Article
- Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundFemale genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is a cultural practice associated with health consequences, women rights and deprivation of dignity. Despite FGM/C-related health consequences, circumcised women may encounter additional challenges while seeking interventions for reproductive health problems. Experiences of women/girls while accessing health services for reproductive health problems including FGM/C-related complications in poor, remote and hard to reach areas is poorly understood. We sought to explore barriers to care seeking among Somali women with complications related to FGM/C in public health facilities in Kenya.
methodsWe drew on qualitative data collected from purposively selected women aged 15-49 years living with FGM/C, their partners, community leaders, and health providers in Nairobi and Garissa Counties. Data were collected using in-depth interviews (n = 10), key informant interviews (n = 23) and 20 focus group discussions. Data were transcribed and analyzed thematically using NVivo version 12.
resultsBarriers were grouped into four thematic categories. Structural barriers to care-seeking, notably high cost of care, distance from health facilities, and lack of a referral system. Concerns regarding perceived quality of care also presented a barrier. Women questioned health professionals' and health facilities' capacity to offer culturally-sensitive FGM/C-specific care, plus ensuring confidentiality and privacy. Women faced socio-cultural barriers while seeking care particularly cultural taboos against discussing matters related to sexual health with male clinicians. Additionally, fear of legal sanctions given the anti-FGM/C law deterred women with FGM/C-related complications from seeking healthcare.
conclusionStructural, socio-cultural, quality of service, and legal factors limit health seeking for reproductive health problems including FGM/C-related complications. Strengthening health system should consider integration of FGM/C-related interventions with existing maternal child health services for cost effectiveness, efficiency and quality care. The interventions should address health-related financial, physical and communication barriers, while ensuring culturally-sensitive and confidential care.
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