Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40494899›Full record

ArticleNature human behaviour2025

Social clustering of preference for female genital mutilation/cutting in south-central Ethiopia.

Sarah Myers, Eshetu Gurmu, Alexandra Alvergne, Daniel Redhead, Janet A Howard, Mhairi A Gibson

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature human behaviour, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Sarah MyersDepartment of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. sarah_myers@eva.mpg.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0542-7540
Eshetu GurmuCenter for Population Studies and Institute of Development and Policy Research, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Alexandra AlvergneInstitute of Evolutionary Science Montpellier, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3151-9919
Daniel RedheadDepartment of Sociology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2809-8121
Janet A HowardDepartment of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Mhairi A GibsonDepartment of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. mhairi.gibson@bristol.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7963-4759

Funding

British Academy HDV190133
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Recent estimates indicate that half of Ethiopian girls aged 15-19 years have experienced female genital mutilation/cutting (FGMC). Establishing whether and how pro-FGMC norms are maintained through social transmission is a key priority for global eradication efforts. Here we present the first large-scale socio-centric social network study estimating social influence and social selection on preference for cutting female relatives using data from 5,163 Ethiopian Arsi Oromo adults. Statistical modelling, which accounts for network dependence in cross-sectional data, finds signals of 'contagion' within chatting, respect and money-borrowing networks. This indicates that social influence contributes to FGMC maintenance. We find no clear evidence of social selection within marriage-advice networks, suggesting these networks are not implicated in FGMC maintenance. Contrary to assumptions underpinning current eradication efforts, we find negligible evidence that FGMC is a social coordination norm (with only 6.3% endorsement) or an empirical or normative expectation. We conclude by making intervention design recommendations.

Indexed as

Circumcision, FemaleEast African PeopleSocial NetworkingSocial NormsAdolescentAdultCluster AnalysisCross-Sectional StudiesEthiopiaFemaleHumansModels, StatisticalSocial Network AnalysisYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID40494899
PMCPMC12454122

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.