Date of Conferral

8-6-2026

Date of Award

August 2026

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Health Sciences

Advisor

Dr. Theresa Gibble

Abstract

Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) affects women from the Sidama region of Ethiopia differently from women in other parts of Ethiopia, which results in different physical and psychological consequences. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore why the Sidama people’s FGM/C custom differs from that of other parts of Ethiopia. A case study methodology was used to answer the following research question: How does the practice of FGM/C among the Sidama people in Ethiopia differ from that in other regions regarding its cultural significance and rituals? Moreover, how do community attitudes and beliefs surrounding FGM/C among the Sidama people compare to those in areas with different experiences? Purposive sampling was used to select 12 Sidama women who had undergone FGM/C. A semi-structured interview protocol was used to gather the data. Four themes emerged: FGM/C is (a) rite of passage into womanhood, making the girl suitable for marriage, and (b) performed without proper medical facilities, resulting in physical harm and childbirth complications, (c) FGM/C among the Sidama people is associated with the sexual purity of the women who undergo the practice, and (d) the Sidama women in this study emphasized the importance of preventing infections after the FGM/C procedure. The significance of this study was its potential to result in positive social change in the Sidama community by reducing the high prevalence of FGM/C among women.

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