SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTORS AFFECTING SEXUAL & REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH: THE ROLES ...

174 Pages·2008·0.81 MB·English

ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF MEDICINE
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY HEALTH

SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTORS AFFECTING SEXUAL & REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTH: THE ROLES OF TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONS AMONG THE
BORANA PASTORALISTS OF OROMIYA, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

BY

IBRAHIM AMAE ELEMO (M.D.)

A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES OF ADDIS
ABABA UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH

MAY 2006
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
Dedication

To my mother for the pain and the love
And
All the Borana women for the endurance
Acknowledgement

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to my advisor Dr. Yilma Melkamu and other
academic staffs in the Department of Community Health for their commitments and
persistent encouragement. I am also grateful to Oromiya HAPCO and CARE-Borana for
their all rounded assistance. Many thanks all to of my friends who encouraged me morally to
work for long hours and for having a confidence in me that I could do my thesis successfully
when at the same time I was actively and fully engaged in managing HIV/AIDS interventions
in Oromiya. I am especially grateful to my brother Kadiro Amae for the commitment to edit
and proof read the initial draft documents. I am very much grateful to the moderators, and all
of my informants who were willing to sacrifice their invaluable time and share their
knowledge honestly.

Picture: Gumi Gayo Assembly (2004): One of the Borana Traditional Institutions

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TABLE OF CONTENT

Content Page
Acknowledgement --------------------------------------------------------------------I
Table of Content --------------------------------------------------------------------- II
Acronyms and Abbreviation ------------------------------------------------------ IV
Glossary------------------------------------------------------------------------------ VI
List of Annexes-------------------------------------------------------------------- VIII

Abstract ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1

Introduction -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3

Literature Review ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8
Socio-Cultural Factors affecting Sexual and RH Behavior -------------------- 8
Reproductive Health Care in Borana ------------------------------------------- 11
Traditional Institutions and Their Roles --------------------------------------- 13
General Objectives ---------------------------------------------------------------- 17
Specific Objectives---------------------------------------------------------------- 17

Methods ---------------------------------------------------------------------------18
Results -----------------------------------------------------------------------------31
Cultural Factors Affecting SRH Behavior------------------------------------------------- 31
Sexual Norms:----------------------------------------------------------------35

Rules and Regulations about Sexuality -------------------------------- -38
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Sexual behaviors outlawed in Borana society--------------------------41
Jaala- Jaalto: women extramarital sexual partnership --------------------59
Female Genital Cutting / Circumcision ---------------------------------80
Maternal and Child Health Related Traditional Practices ------------82
Social Factors Affecting Sexual and Reproductive Health ------------------ 87
Religious Education and Expansion:-------------------------------------------- 92
Reproductive Health Needs ----------------------------------------------------- 100
Role of traditional institutions in youth sexual
and RH promotion---------------------------------------------------------------------------106
Reproductive Health Needs of Women: --------------------------------------------------107
Family Planning Needs:------------------------------------------------------109
The Roles of Traditional Institutions in Sexual and
RH Promotion ---------------------------------------------------------------- 112
Discussion ------------------------------------------------------------------- 120
Recommendations ----------------------------------------------------------- 143
Reference: --------------------------------------------------------------------- 145

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Acronyms and Abbreviations
AACs: Ant-AIDS Clubs
ABC: Abstinence, Be faithful and use Condom
ANC: Antenatal Care
ART: Anti-Retroviral Treatment
BSS: Behavioral Surveillance Survey
CARE: Cooperative of America Relief Every where
CBRHA: Community Based Reproductive Health Agents
CBD: Community Based Distribution
CHA: Community Health Agents
CBO: Community Based Organization
CSWs: Commercial Sex Workers
DPT: Diphtheria, Pertusis and Tetanus
E.C.: Ethiopian Calendar
FBO: Faith Based Organization
FGC: Female Genital Cutting
FGD: Focus Group Discussion
FP: Family Planning
IDI: In-depth Interview
GO: Government Organization
GG: Gumi Gayo
GGA: Gumii Gaayoo Assembly

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GGM: Gumii Gaayoo Meeting
GE: Gumi El-dallo
GEA: Gumii El-dalloo Assembly
GEM: Gumi El-dallo Meeting
HAPCO: HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office
HCT: Hematochrit
HIV/AIDS: Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
MTCT: Mother-to-Child Transmission
MDG: Millennium Development Goals
MMR: Maternal Mortality Ratio
OVC: Orphan and Vulnerable Children
OHB: Oromiya Health Bureau
NGO: Non-governmental Organization
PLWHA: People Living With HIV/AIDS
PMTCT: Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission
SCF / USA: Save the Children Federation/ United States of America
SNNPR: South Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region
STD: Sexually Transmitted
STI: Sexually Transmitted Infections
TTBA: Trained Traditional Birth Attendants
TTA: Traditional Birth Attendants
VCT: Voluntary Counseling and Testing
VDRL: Venereal Disease Research Laborator
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Glossary

(cid:1) Aadaa: Custom; customary laws
(cid:1) Aadaa-Seera Boorana: Custom and Laws of Boorana
(cid:1) Abbaa: father, master of a ceremony/era
(cid:1) Abbaa Gadaa: Prime Councilor, Master of Gadaa period, Gadaa leader
(cid:1) Adulaa Hayyuu: Senior councilor, Luba Councilors in Gadaa class beyond the
third Gadaa class
(cid:1) Chabana: Sexual outcast, either a man or a woman
(cid:1) Chabana Burre: A person who knowingly committed sex with a Chabana
(cid:1) El-dalloo: A ritual place about 20KMs east of Nageelle town
(cid:1) Dhaala: widow inheritance
(cid:1) Dirree: The traditional western half of Boorana country
(cid:1) Buusa-Gonofa: Boorana social security system usually among clan members
(cid:1) Hamaa-Mudaammuddii: Open palms and Groins, killing a person by hitting in
the open palms and the Groin with Bokkuu (a special stick), the practice called
Luboomu
(cid:1) Haraamu-Kobuu: Sexual relations with one’s filial or paternal generation or Luba,
sexual relation with one’s clan member, uterine relatives or a wife of one’s filial
or paternal Luba
(cid:1) Hariyya: age-set, age-set system
(cid:1) Hayyu: a clan councilor; a traditional leader
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(cid:1) Gada: An Oromo indigenous, traditional socio-political system through which the
Oromo society exercise self governance
(cid:1) Gumi: Assembly of people/ multitude
(cid:1) Gumi Gayo: Gaayoo Assembly
(cid:1) Gumi El-dallo: El-dalloo assembly
(cid:1) Gayo: A ritual place in Dirree district 30 KMs east of Dubuluq town
(cid:1) For a: A temporary settlement camp away from home with dry livestocks
(cid:1) Jaala-Jaalt: Love-mistress relationship
(cid:1) Karraa-Mataa: A form of punishment, literally someone’s property and the mind
(cid:1) Kebele: the lowest adnum trative body in a dutrict, a sub-country
(cid:1) Kuusoma: Youth peer group formation during rite de passage
(cid:1) Luba: Gadaa class, generation set
(cid:1) Nagaa-Boorana: Peace of Boorana
(cid:1) Boorantitti: Boorana Identity
(cid:1) Qaallu: Spiritual moiety leaders/ High priest
(cid:1) Raaba: Prospective Gadaa leaders, the succeeding Gadaa
(cid:1) Raaba-Gadaa: the Boorana governing body, joint council of Raaba and Gadaa
(cid:1) Sabboo-Goona: Sabboo moiety and Goona moiety, Boorana two halves

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List of Annexes

I. Topic Guides: English Version
Annex one. Topic Guide for In-Depth Interview with Key Informants------------------154
Annex two. Topic Guide for Focus Group Discussion-----------------------------------155
Annex three. Written Consent Form for In-depth Interviews--------------------------156
Annex four. Written Consent Form for FGDs---------------------------------------------157
Annex five. Sample FGD/ Interview Recording Sheet-----------------------------------158
Annex six. Registration Form for FGD and In Depth Interview----------------------158

II. Topic Guide: Afaan Oromo Version
Annex one. Gaafii Qajeelfamaa Gaafiifi Deebii Kan Keessaa Beettuu Waliin-----159
Annex two. Gaafii Qajeelfamaa Kan Marii Kallattiin Tuuta Waliin Tolfame-----160
Annex three. Gucaa Walgaltii kan keessa beekaa waliin mallatteefamuu----------161
Annex four. Gucaa Walgaltii kan keessa beekaa waliin mallatteefamuu-----------162
Annex five. Yaadannoo Saampilii ka Marii Kallattiin Tuutaa Waliin Tolfame----------163
Annex six. Gucaa Galmee kan FGD fi ka Marii Kallattiin Tuutaa Waliin-------163

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