BACKGROUND Female Genital Mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is a tradition rooted in culture and involves the partial or total removal or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. In Kenya, initiatives to abandon the practice have included 'alternative' ritualistic programmes (ARPs) combined with intensive community sensitisation about FGM/C to achieve attitudinal and behavioural changes. While there are indications of the effectiveness of these interventions, FGM/C continues to be practiced within certain groups in Kenya. This study explored the views of anti-FGM/C advocates on the barriers and facilitators to tackling FGM/C within the Meru community in Kenya. METHODS Data were obtained using 4 Focus Groups (FGs) with 30 anti-FGM/C advocates from Tigania East and West in Meru county. Thematic framework analysis guided the analysis based on four main questions: 1) How has the cultural meaning of FGM/C evolved over time? 2) What are the perceptions in relation to the effectiveness of anti-FGM/C interventions? 3) How effective are interventions and campaigns to end FGM/C in Meru county? 4) What actions are perceived as the most likely to bring about change? RESULTS There has been a substantial shift in the culture of FGM/C and the number of families carrying out the practice in Meru county has decreased in recent years. Participants noted five actions likely to bring about change; 1) reviving and supporting ARPs, 2) encouraging fathers' involvement in the upbringing of their daughters,3) inclusion of the topic of FGM/C in the current education curriculum and public fora, 4) strengthening the community policing strategy -Nyumba Kumi, 5) and setting up community centers for orphans. CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrate the significance of locally led initiatives to fight FGM/C. It also became clear that change would have to start at the family level with parents, particularly fathers, taking on a more active role in the lives of their daughters. Providing education about FGM/C to communities, particularly young men coupled with keeping girls in school appeared to be some of the most effective ways of fighting FGM/C. At the community level, the church became particularly crucial in challenging the practice of FGM/C.

中文翻译：

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肯尼亚农村地区反对女性生殖器切割/切割生殖器倡导者的课程“促进地方领导的倡议，以反对切割女性生殖器/切割生殖器/切割生殖器”。

背景技术女性生殖器切割/切割（FGM / C）是植根于文化的传统，并且由于非医学原因而涉及女性生殖器的部分或全部切除或其他损伤。在肯尼亚，放弃该习俗的举措包括“替代性”礼仪计划（ARPs），以及对FGM / C的强烈社区意识，以实现态度和行为改变。尽管有迹象表明这些干预措施是有效的，但在肯尼亚的某些群体中仍在继续实施女性生殖器切割/生殖器切割。这项研究探讨了反对FGM / C倡导者在肯尼亚Meru社区解决FGM / C的障碍和促进者的观点。方法使用梅鲁县东部和西部的Tigania的4个焦点小组（FG）和30位反对FGM / C的拥护者获得数据。主题框架分析指导了基于四个主要问题的分析：1）FGM / C的文化含义是如何随着时间演变的？2）关于抗FGM / C干预措施的有效性有什么看法？3）在梅鲁县结束FGM / C的干预和运动效果如何？4）人们认为哪些行动最有可能带来变化？结果FGM / C的文化已经发生了很大的变化，近年来在Meru县开展这一习俗的家庭数量有所减少。与会者指出了可能带来变化的五项行动；1）恢复和支持ARPs； 2）鼓励父亲参与女儿的养育； 3）将FGM / C主题纳入当前的教育课程和公共论坛，4）加强社区警务策略-Nyumba Kumi，5）并建立孤儿社区中心。结论我们的研究结果证明了当地领导的与女性生殖器切割/生殖器对抗的举措的重要性。同样很明显，必须从家庭层面开始改变，父母，尤其是父亲，必须在女儿的生活中发挥更加积极的作用。向社区，特别是年轻男子提供有关女性外阴残割/残割行为的教育，再加上使女孩入学，似乎是打击女性外阴残割/残割行为的最有效方法。在社区一级，教会在挑战女性外阴残割/女性割礼的实践中尤其重要。同样很明显，必须从家庭层面开始改变，父母，尤其是父亲，必须在女儿的生活中发挥更加积极的作用。向社区，特别是年轻男子提供有关女性外阴残割/残割行为的教育，再加上使女孩入学，似乎是打击女性外阴残割/残割行为的最有效方法。在社区一级，教会在挑战女性外阴残割/女性割礼的实践中尤其重要。同样很明显，必须从家庭层面开始改变，父母，尤其是父亲，必须在女儿的生活中发挥更加积极的作用。向社区，特别是年轻男子提供有关女性外阴残割/残割行为的教育，再加上使女孩入学，似乎是打击女性外阴残割/残割行为的最有效方法。在社区一级，教会在挑战女性外阴残割/女性割礼的实践中尤其重要。