Educational Empowerment: A Key to Combating Female Genital Mutilation in Samburu County, Kenya

Abstract

Despite attempts to end FGM, the practice continues and damages girls and women seriously. Several socioeconomic like household education levels have an impact on the frequency of FGM in Samburu County. In research on socioeconomic and cultural factors, household education levels are not adequately explored. Current research has mostly concentrated on the prevalence and risk factors for FGM at the national level, which could not accurately reflect the particular context of Samburu County. As a result, there was a study gap about the precise household education as well as their interactions, that contribute to the frequency of FGM in Samburu County. The study was carried out to fill the gap through answering the question, how does the level of education influence prevalence of FGM in Samburu County, Kenya? Study respondents in Samburu County perceived a strong correlation between education and FGM prevalence. FGM was consistently associated with a lack of education, and respondents considered education a crucial tool for raising awareness and potentially decreasing its prevalence. FGM prevention is also strongly believed to be affected by parents' and guardians' education levels. The study recommends that stakeholders, including government bodies, NGOs, and community leaders to prioritize the establishment and extension of comprehensive educational programs given the correlation between educational attainment and the persistence of FGM In Samburu County