@article{ref1,
title="A realist synthesis of controlled studies to determine the effectiveness of interventions to prevent genital cutting of girls",
journal="Paediatrics and international child health",
year="2013",
author="Denison, Eva M. and Berg, Rigmor C.",
volume="33",
number="4",
pages="322-333",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is a traditional practice which involves the partial or total removal or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. Although current trends indicate that the practice is becoming less prevalent, as many as 30 million girls may still be at risk of FGM/C. Given the associated risks and violation of the human rights of girls and women, the practice is discouraged through preventative interventions. AIMS: To systematically review the effectiveness of anti-FGM/C interventions, applying a realist perspective. METHODS: The realist synthesis approach addressed context-mechanisms-outcomes (CMO) underlying intervention in an attempt to explain interventions' success or lack thereof. The process involved exposed the usefulness of strategies in different contexts. RESULTS: Eight effectiveness studies and 27 context studies were included. All of the effectiveness studies employed a controlled, before-and-after study design. They formed five broad categories of intervention: training, formal classroom education, media communication, outreach and advocacy, and informal adult education. The CMO configurations showed that the proposed engine behind changing behaviours regarding FGM/C appeared largely to be dissemination of information. Some interventions' acceptability and success rested on the incorporation of FGM/C abandonment efforts within a larger set of related issues. However, greater success of the interventions could have materialised with systematic pre-planning involving thorough community analyses and securing religious leaders' commitment to halting FGM/C. CONCLUSION: The results of this analysis point to conditions that facilitate the success of FGM/C abandonment programmes in different contexts and can be used in future prevention efforts to reduce the risk of girls being subjected to FGM/C.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2046-9047",
doi="10.1179/2046905513Y.0000000086",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/2046905513Y.0000000086"
}