Breaking with traditions: Who are the women with attitudes, norms and behaviors that support ending female genital mutilation in Burkina Faso?

Studies examining norms and behaviors around female genital mutilation (FGM) are needed to accelerate progress towards the elimination of this harmful practice. This study uses nationally representative data from a pilot FGM module among women ages 15-49 from Burkina Faso collected in 2023/2024. Three main outcomes related to attitudes, norms and behaviors are used to determine which women who themselves experienced FGM are early adopters of norms and behaviors for stopping the practice in the future. Of the 95% of women who know about FGM, 69.5% experienced FGM, with higher prevalence in rural (74%) than in urban (55%) areas. Results demonstrate that among women who experienced FGM, education level and living in a Christian-headed household are associated with having early adopter attitudes, norms, and behaviors. Conversely, girls and younger women (ages 15-24) are less likely to have early adopter attitudes, norms, and behaviors than their older counterparts (ages 35+). Further, in the analysis of whether women who experienced FGM themselves performed FGM on their daughter(s) or if they would consider FGM for a daughter, for those who do not have daughters, we find that those who are innovators and not practicing FGM are more educated and Christian. In addition, younger women are more likely to report that they would continue FGM than their older counterparts. Results are discussed in the context of strategies to eliminate FGM, particularly among women in communities where FGM is common.