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Download (2754Kb) A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of PhD at the University of Warwick Permanent WRAP URL: http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/88049 Copyright and reuse: This thesis is made available online and is protected by original copyright. Please scroll down to view the document itself. Please refer to the repository record for this item for information to help you to cite it. Our policy information is available from the repository home page. For more information, please contact the WRAP Team at: [email protected] warwick.ac.uk/lib-publications Psychological Impact of Female Genital Mutilation and Mechanisms of Maintenance and Resistance in Harmful Traditional Practices against Women and Girls Jennifer Glover This thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctorate in Clinical Psychology Coventry University, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences University of Warwick, Department of Psychology May 2016 Contents Title Page Number Contents.......................................................................................................................................... i List of tables and figures ........................................................................................................... vii List of appendices ..................................................................................................................... viii Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................... ix Declaration .................................................................................................................................... x List of abbreviations ................................................................................................................... xi Glossary ....................................................................................................................................... xii Summary ..................................................................................................................................... xiii Chapter 1: Persistence and resistance of intergenerational harmful traditional practices against girls in Africa and Asia: A critical review of the literature 1.0. Abstract ............................................................................................................................ 2 1.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................... 3 1.1.1. What are harmful traditional practices? ......................................................... 3 1.1.2. Harmful traditional practices against women and girls ............................... 3 1.1.3. Son preference ................................................................................................... 4 1.1.4. Female genital mutilation ................................................................................. 4 1.1.5. Child marriage ................................................................................................... 5 1.1.6. Rationale and aims of literature review .......................................................... 6 1.2. Method ............................................................................................................................. 7 1.2.1. Search strategy ................................................................................................... 7 1.2.2. Electronic database search ............................................................................... 8 1.2.3. Manual search .................................................................................................... 8 1.2.4. Inclusion and exclusion criteria ...................................................................... 9 i 1.2.5. Classification of studies .................................................................................. 10 1.2.6. Quality assessment framework...................................................................... 11 1.2.7. Results of quality appraisal ............................................................................ 12 1.2.8. Characteristics of studies ............................................................................... 12 1.3. Results ............................................................................................................................ 24 1.3.1. Aim 1: What are the sociological facets that perpetuate HTPs? .............. 24 1.3.1.1. Educational status ................................................................ 24 1.3.1.2. Residential location .............................................................. 27 1.3.1.3. Economic factors ................................................................. 28 1.3.1.4. Family history of harmful traditional practices ............... 30 1.3.2. Aim 2: What are the factors facilitating resistance to the continuation of HTPs? ............................................................................................................... 31 1.3.2.1. Negative health consequences ........................................... 31 1.3.2.2. Female autonomy ................................................................ 33 1.3.3. Aim 3: What are the control mechanisms that inhibit resistance to HTPs? ............................................................................................................... 34 1.3.3.1. Religion ................................................................................. 34 1.3.3.2. Culture, tradition, and social pressures ............................. 38 1.3.3.3. Patriarchy .............................................................................. 40 1.4. Discussion ...................................................................................................................... 41 1.4.1. Summary of results ............................................................................................ 42 1.4.2. Clinical and policy implications........................................................................ 45 1.4.3. Limitations and future research directions .................................................... 46 1.5. Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 48 1.6. References ........................................................................................................................... 49 ii Chapter 2: Psychological impact of female genital mutilation: A grounded theory approach 2.0. Abstract .......................................................................................................................... 59 2.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................. 60 2.1.1. Female genital mutilation ............................................................................... 60 2.1.2. Psychological impact of FGM ..................................................................... 61 2.1.3. Resilience .......................................................................................................... 62 2.1.4. Psychological impact of physical health complications ............................. 63 2.1.5. Rationale for current research: Aims and research questions .................. 63 2.2. Methodology 2.2.1. Research design ............................................................................................... 64 2.2.2. Researcher’s position ...................................................................................... 64 2.2.3. Sampling design ............................................................................................... 65 2.2.4. Participants ....................................................................................................... 65 2.2.5. Procedure ......................................................................................................... 68 2.1.5.1. Ethical considerations ......................................................... 68 2.1.5.2. Materials ................................................................................ 68 2.1.5.3. Recruitment .......................................................................... 69 2.1.5.4. Interview procedure ............................................................ 69 2.1.5.5. Method of data analysis ...................................................... 70 2.1.5.6. Credibility of study .............................................................. 71 2.3. Results 2.3.1. Model describing the psychological impact of FGM on women participants .................................................................................................................... 72 2.3.2. Conceptualisation of FGM ............................................................................ 73 2.3.2.1. Lack of knowledge ............................................................................ 73 iii 2.3.2.2. Female identity ..................................................................... 74 2.3.2.3. Religion ................................................................................. 74 2.3.2.4. Culture ................................................................................... 75 2.3.2.5. Role of men ......................................................................... 76 2.3.2.6. Deception.............................................................................. 76 2.3.3. Impact on identity ..........................................................................................
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