Health promotion for female genital mutilation among male and female in Somalia: A invervention study

Female genital mutilation (FGM) remains a widespread and deeply rooted practice in Somalia, particularly among internally displaced persons (IDPs), where limited education, cultural beliefs, and social pressure contributed to its continuation. Despite global and national efforts to eliminate FGM, few studies have assessed the impact of health education interventions in humanitarian settings. Objective: This study aimed to assess the baseline knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to FGM among residents of IDP camps in Garowe, Somalia, and to evaluate the effect of the health education session on participants perceptions and attitudes regarding FGM. Methods: A pre-post intervention study was conducted among 363 participants, both men and women living in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Garowe, Somalia. Participants were selected using snowball sampling. A structured questionnaire was administered before the intervention and after the health education session on FGM. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis, and McNemar's tests to assess associations and changes in knowledge and attitudes. Results: At baseline, 100% of participants were aware of the existence of FGM, but only 44.9% perceived it as harmful, and 70.2% supported its continuation in the form of Sunni circumcision. Education and employment status were significantly associated with attitudes toward FGM (p=0.001). following the intervention, significant improvements were observed, awareness that FGM causes infections rose from 49% to 85%, and awareness of delivery complications increased from 40% to 81% (p=0.000). willingness to circumcise daughters dropped from 42% to 19%, Additionally, 75.6% of participants reported a change in attitude, and 70.7% expressed increased confidence in speaking publicly about FGM. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that brief, targeted health education can significantly improve knowledge and shift attitudes toward FGM, even in resource limited and culturally conservative settings. Public health programs in Somalia should incorporate education interventions that engage both women and men, involving religious leaders, and address the sociocultural drivers sustaining FGM. Key words: FGM, Somalia, IDP camps, health education, public health, behavior change, gender.