Ethical Issues in Conducting Interventions Research on Female Genital Cutting

Abstract

While the ethical principles of beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy and justice are relevant to all types of research that involves human subjects, the above principles are of particular importance when conducting intervention research to promote abandonment of the practice of female genital cutting (FGC). FGC is a highly sensitive and controversial issue that touches on women’s bodies, their status in society as well as deeply entrenched cultural values of gender and sexuality. This paper discusses some of the ethical challenges that researchers face in designing interventions against FGC, assessing their impact and in disseminating results of such interventions to policy makers, donors and the research community.

The author concludes the paper by suggesting that all proposals for intervention studies against FGC include mechanisms for helping women/girls who have been circumcised; that more culturally appropriate informed consent procedures be developed; and that ethical review committees include individuals who are familiar with the study community.