This section provides brief summaries of current research on harmful traditional health practices relevant to low-resource settings. More detailed discussions of specific key issues are included in the Harmful Traditional Health Practices Annotated Bibliography page. The implications of dry sex practices on reproductive health programs Be sure to use the Glossary if you are unfamiliar with any of the terms on this page.
Several models exist to guide program activities.
For example, the Health Belief Model seeks to explain and predict behavior by analyzing attitudes and beliefs. The Stages of Change model presents a cyclical process which includes precontemplation of new behavior, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance. Community research should be considered in program design. Top of page Exploring FGC attitudes and practices Learning more about how and why FGC is practiced in various settings is key to developing prevention strategies. Where FGC is very widely practiced, for example, older members of the community often are influential in decisions to perform the procedure on young girls.