BACKGROUND Although Sudan has one of the highest prevalence of female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C), there have been shifts in e practice. These shifts include a reduction in the prevalence among younger age cohorts, changes in the types of FGM/C, an increase in medicalization, and changes in age of the practice. The drivers of these shifts are not well understood. METHOD Qualitative data drawn from a larger study in Khartoum and Gedaref States, Family and Midwife individual interviews and focus group discussions. Analysis and categorization within a Social Norms theoretical framework. RESULTS Major findings confirmed shifts in the type FGM/C (presumably from infibulation to non-infibulating types) and increasing medicalization in the studied communities. These shifts were reported to be driven by social, professional and religious norms. CONCLUSION Changes in FGM practice in Sudan include drivers which will not facilitate abandonment of the practice instead lead to normalization of FGM/C. Yet professionalisation of Midwives including their oath to stop FGM/C has potential to facilitate abandonment rapidly if developed with other Sudan health professionals.

中文翻译：

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苏丹女性外阴残割/残割做法的转变：社区的观点和驱动力。

背景技术尽管苏丹是女性生殖器残割或切割（FGM / C）患病率最高的国家之一，但在实践中却发生了变化。这些变化包括年龄较小的人群的患病率降低，FGM / C类型的变化，医疗的增加以及医疗机构年龄的变化。这些转变的驱动因素还不是很清楚。方法：定性数据来自于喀土穆和盖达勒夫州的一项较大研究，家庭和助产士的个人访谈和焦点小组讨论。在社会规范理论框架内进行分析和分类。结果主要发现证实了FGM / C型的转变（大概是从房颤型向非房颤型），并且在所研究的社区中医疗水平不断提高。据报道，这些变化是由社会，专业和宗教规范所驱动的。结论苏丹对女性生殖器残割做法的改变包括一些驱动因素，这些驱动因素将不助于放弃该惯例，反而导致女性生殖器残割/生殖器官正常化。但是，如果与其他苏丹卫生专业人员一起发展，助产士的专业化，包括他们誓言要终止女性生殖器切割/生殖器切割，则有可能迅速促进其被遗弃。