{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,8]],"date-time":"2026-07-08T19:39:21Z","timestamp":1783539561460,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,9]],"date-time":"2025-07-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1752019200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosglobalpublichealth.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLOS Glob Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Somalia has the highest estimated prevalence of female genital mutilation\/cutting (FGM\/C) globally. However, significant literature gaps exist on associated knowledge and contextual factors within the country, particularly among affected women. This study thus aimed to explore Somali women\u2019s perspectives about FGM\/C and its potential abandonment in Somalia. We conducted an exploratory qualitative study, informed by critical feminist and social norms theories. Data from 20 semi-structured remote interviews with women in Somalia were analysed thematically using abductive coding. We generated three themes of normative expectations and social control, patriarchal influence and gendered power, and FGM\/C support and abandonment. Women demonstrated detailed knowledge of FGM\/C procedures and consequences, sharing personal experiences of living with the effects of FGM\/C on their physical, mental, and sexual health. Most supported continuation of \u201cmilder\u201d \u2018<jats:italic>gudniinka sunnah\u2019<\/jats:italic> FGM\/C, rather than abandoning the tradition. However, \u2018<jats:italic>gudniinka sunnah<\/jats:italic>\u2019 described several types of cutting, some which fit the World Health Organization typology of Type-IV (pricking, scraping) and others Type-I (removing part\/all of the external clitoris), while \u2018<jats:italic>gudniinka fircooniga\u2019<\/jats:italic> (Type-III) \u2013 though still occurring - was universally described negatively. While acknowledging potential harms, women expressed the need for more religious and scientific clarity before changing their generally supportive opinions of \u2018sunnah\u2019 FGM\/C. Discussing socio-cultural and religious reasons for this preference, women described social norms of femininity and how awareness interventions affected their understanding of \u2018severe\u2019 FGM\/C and could help responses against FGM\/C in Somalia. While all FGM\/C types are negatively associated with women\u2019s health and wellbeing, Type-IV is least understood. Although women opposed Type-III, they supported continuing Type-I\/Type-IV as \u2018sunnah\u2019 FGM\/C. Reasons for this practice are rooted deeply in Somali culture and require active engagement of a range of community stakeholders to enact meaningful changes. Health education can contribute to changing attitudes towards FGM\/C in Somalia but is insufficient on its own, potentially benefitting from interventions to change social norms.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pgph.0004571","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,9]],"date-time":"2025-07-09T17:26:51Z","timestamp":1752082011000},"page":"e0004571","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pgph.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["\u201cI just wanted to be like everyone else\u2026\u201d: Qualitative exploration of women\u2019s perspectives on female genital mutilation\/cutting and its potential abandonment in Somalia"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"5","author":[{"given":"Zamzam I. A.","family":"Ali","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3737-8790","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Mervat","family":"Alhaffar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4174-7349","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Natasha","family":"Howard","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"pgph.0004571.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101968","DOI":"10.1016\/j.evalprogplan.2021.101968","article-title":"A commentary: Using a theory-based approach to guide a global programme of FGM\/C research: What have we learned about creating actionable research findings?","volume":"88","author":"JM Strachan","year":"2021","journal-title":"Eval Program 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