Amref Health Africa, Langata Rd, PO Box 27691-00506, Nairobi, Kenya.
Population Council, Avenue 5, 3rd Floor Rose Ave, Nairobi, Kenya.
BMC Public Health. 2022 Mar 29;22(1):601. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-13043-w.
The effects of COVID-19 on harmful traditional practices such Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) and Child or Forced Marriages (CFM) have not been well documented. We examined respondents' perceptions on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected FGM/C and CFM in Kenya, Uganda, Senegal, and Ethiopia.
A cross-sectional study design with a mixed methods approach was used. Data collection on participants' perceptions on the effects of COVID-19 on FGM/C and CFM took place between October-December 2020. Household surveys targeting women and men aged 15-49 years in Kenya (n = 312), Uganda (n = 278), Ethiopia (n = 251), and Senegal (n = 208) were conducted. Thirty-eight key informant interviews with programme implementers and policymakers were carried out in Kenya (n = 17), Uganda (n = 9), Ethiopia (n = 8), and Senegal (n = 4).
In Kenya, the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to the increase in both FGM/C and CFM cases. Minimal increase of FGM/C cases was reported in Uganda and a significant increase in CFM cases. In Ethiopia, the COVID-19 pandemic had a limited perceived effect on changes in FGM/C and CFM. In Senegal, there were minimal perceived effects of COVID-19 on the number of FGM/C and CFM cases. The pandemic negatively affected implementation of interventions by the justice and legal system, the health system, and civil societies.
The pandemic has had varied perceived effects on FGM/C and CFM across the four countries. Generally, the pandemic has negatively affected implementation of interventions by the various sectors that are responsible for preventing and responding to FGM/C and CFM. This calls for innovative approaches in intervening in the various communities to ensure that women and girls at risk of FGM/C and CFM or in need of services are reached during the pandemic. Evidence on how effective alternative approaches such as the use of call centres, radio talk shows and the use of local champions as part of risk communication in preventing and responding to FGM/C and CFM amid COVID-19 is urgently required.
COVID-19 对女性割礼/切割（FGM/C）和童婚/强迫婚姻（CFM）等有害传统习俗的影响尚未得到充分记录。我们研究了肯尼亚、乌干达、塞内加尔和埃塞俄比亚的受访者对 COVID-19 大流行如何影响 FGM/C 和 CFM 的看法。
采用横断面研究设计和混合方法。2020 年 10 月至 12 月期间，对肯尼亚（n=312）、乌干达（n=278）、埃塞俄比亚（n=251）和塞内加尔（n=208）15-49 岁的妇女和男子进行了关于他们对 COVID-19 对 FGM/C 和 CFM 影响的看法的问卷调查。在肯尼亚（n=17）、乌干达（n=9）、埃塞俄比亚（n=8）和塞内加尔（n=4）进行了 38 次与方案实施者和决策者的关键知情人访谈。
在肯尼亚，COVID-19 大流行导致 FGM/C 和 CFM 案件增加。乌干达报告的 FGM/C 病例略有增加，而 CFM 病例显著增加。在埃塞俄比亚，COVID-19 大流行对 FGM/C 和 CFM 变化的感知影响有限。在塞内加尔，COVID-19 对 FGM/C 和 CFM 病例数量的感知影响较小。大流行对司法和法律系统、卫生系统和民间社会实施干预措施产生了负面影响。
大流行对这四个国家的 FGM/C 和 CFM 产生了不同的感知影响。一般来说，大流行对负责预防和应对 FGM/C 和 CFM 的各个部门实施干预措施产生了负面影响。这需要在各个社区采取创新方法，以确保在大流行期间接触到有 FGM/C 和 CFM 风险的妇女和女孩或需要服务的妇女和女孩。迫切需要有关替代方法（如使用呼叫中心、广播脱口秀以及利用当地冠军作为预防和应对 COVID-19 期间 FGM/C 和 CFM 的风险沟通的一部分）的有效性的证据。
