Female genital mutilation: opinion of outpatients of a department of obstetrics and gynaecology in north central Nigeria (original) (raw)
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Background: To our knowledge, no studies have comprehensively evaluated the awareness, perceptions and attitudes of Igbo women of child-bearing age towards female genital mutilation (FGM) in southeastern Nigeria. Objective: To determine the prevalence, awareness and attitude towards the practice of FGM among Igbo women of child-bearing age in Nigeria. Igbo women of child-bearing age. Females from 16 to 45 years were included. Interviewer administered semi-structured pretested validated questionnaires were employed. The results were collected and analyzed with the SPSS version 23. Univariate analysis was performed in order to determine independent risk factors that could possibly affect prevalent rates in the population. The level of significance was set at p<0.05. Results: The study showed that out of 367 respondents interviewed, 49 had FGM, given a prevalence of 13.4%. However, majority (98.7%) were aware of FGM, and their major sources being from family (65.0%), friends (65.0%), and media (48.5%). However, 53.7% of the respondents noted that FGM is still being practiced. Up to 88.6% of the respondents were aware of the complications of FGM and the commonest complications expressed were severe pain during FGM (82.2%), and excessive bleeding (75.7%). Majority (91.3%) stated that it is a bad practice (91.3%) and a form of violence against women (85.8%) and 87.2% want the practice to be discontinued. Most of them (80.4%) stated that FGM has no benefit owing to the fact that it is associated with complications such as difficulty in labor (68.1%) and painful sexual intercourse (47.2%), while 13.6% were indifferent whether FGM should be criminalized. The prevalence of FGM was significantly higher in the older age group (RR=0.09; 95%CI=0.042-0.194; p<0.001) and parous women (RR=1.89; 95%CI=1.084-3.309; p=0.025) compared to the younger age group and nulliparous women respectively. Conclusion: Despite the high awareness and negative attitude of the populace to the practice of FGM and its consequences, it has still continued to persist in Nigerian communities. The prevalence of FGM was 13.4% and the commonest reasons for its continued persistence included traditional norms, preventing promiscuity and premarital sex. More effective measures in addition to the ongoing mass education should be put in place to stop these practices.
Female Genital Mutilation in Northeastern Nigeria
Access Library Journal , 6: e5827. , 2019
Introduction: Different forms of cultural practices are being practiced in Nigeria and other parts of the world. Some of such are beneficial while others lead to negative impacts. Female genital mutilation as one type of harmful traditional practices is a form of violence against women. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), practiced in many parts of the world, also known as female circumcision or female genital cutting (FGC), is the practice in which a female child undergoes a process involving the female external genital organ being removed partially or totally for nonmedical reasons, causing a lot of health and other problems during, shortly after the procedure and later in life. Objective: The objective of the study was to understand knowledge and thoughts of women towards female genital mutilation. Method: A cross sectional descriptive study. Results: Most of the respondents were aware of FGM but not as high as in the southern part of Nigeria. The majority knew the meaning of FGM and thought it as a harmful practice done for various reasons. Conclusion: FGM has negative impacts. It is highly recommended for government to enlighten parents more about menace of FGM through community and school health education.
Annals of medical and health sciences research, 2011
Female genital mutilation is known to exist especially in many third world countries including Nigeria with many women being victims of this harmful practice and its complications. The practice is rife in Southeast Nigeria and efforts have been made to discourage it. To determine women's views on aspects of female genital mutilation and the prevalence among the study population. Women attending the antenatal clinics of two university teaching hospitals in Southeast Nigeria were interviewed by means of structured pre-tested interviewer- administered questionnaires. The data obtained were analysed using SPSS version 10.0 and the results expressed in descriptive statistics as percentages. The prevalence of FGM was 42.1%. However, only 14.3% of the respondents circumcised their own daughters or showed willingness to circumcise their daughters indicating considerable reduction in uptake of the practice. A larger proportion (63.7%) would support legislation against FGM. There is a hig...
Female Genital Mutilation in Nigeria: A Brief Sociological Review
This paper is aimed at developing an insight into a preventable societal issue: the female genital mutilation (FGM), using sociological theories to explore its justifications. In Nigeria, FGM is historically predominant in her culture and traditions. In many cultures, it is perceived as a rites or initiation into womanhood as it includes a period of education and seclusion about responsibilities of a wife. The issue of Female genital mutilation in Nigeria is being tackled by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, the Economic Commission of Africa (FIGO) and many other organizations. The general public at all levels has been given an intensified education emphasizing on the undesirability and dangers of Female Genital Mutilation. Platform of Action adopted by the Beijing conference in 1995 called for FGM eradication by enforcing legislation against its perpetrators. However, in Nigeria there is no such law against FGM practice. This perhaps, remains one of the reasons why FGM control in the country is on slow declining progress.
African Journal of Humanities and Contemporary Education Research, 2022
The paper gave a brief history of female genital mutilation (FGM) in Nigeria and worldwide. in Nigeria, due to its large population, has the highest absolute number of female genital mutilation (FGM) worldwide, accounting for about one-quarter of the estimated 115–130 million circumcised women in the world. The major literatures on FGM also defined Female genital mutilation in line with the World Health Organization (WHO) standards as all procedures which involve partial or total removal of the external genitalia and/ or injury to the female genital organs, whether for cultural or any other non-therapeutic reasons. In addition, the paper discusses the causes of FGM, types of FGM and consequences of FGM in Nigeria. However, there is no federal law banning FGM in Nigeria. There is need to eradicate FGM in Nigeria. Education of the general public at all levels with emphasis on the dangers and undesirability of FGM is paramount.
An overview of female genital mutilation in Nigeria
Annals of medical and health sciences research, 2012
Nigeria, due to its large population, has the highest absolute number of female genital mutilation (FGM) worldwide, accounting for about one-quarter of the estimated 115-130 million circumcised women in the world. The objective of this review is to ascertain the current status of FGM in Nigeria. Pertinent literature on FGM retrieved from internet services [Google search on FGM in Nigeria, www.online Nigeria, PubMed of the national library of medicine www.medconsumer. Info/tropics/fgm.htm, Biomedcentral and African Journal Online (AJOL) (FGM)] and textbooks, journals, and selected references for proper understanding of the topic was included in this review. The national prevalence rate of FGM is 41% among adult women. Evidence abound that the prevalence of FGM is declining. The ongoing drive to eradicate FGM is tackled by World Health Organization, United Nations International Children Emergency Fund, Federation of International Obstetrics and Gynecology (FIGO), African Union, The ec...
2019
Despite efforts to eliminate female genital mutilation and cutting, the harmful practice has persisted in southwest Nigeria. There is an urgent need for accurate data highlighting predictors of the practice so that interventions to eliminate it can be effective. A population-based, cross-sectional survey of women in Ado – Ekiti Local Government Area was conducted to address this need. FGM/C prevalence was 67.2%, and 94% of the women interviewed were aware of the practice. Although most, 142 (39.3%), of the women heard of FGM/C from healthcare personnel, half, 181 (50.1%), of the respondents noted that healthcare providers performed the FGM/C in the community. Young and middle-aged women, of Yoruba extraction who were married, and multiparous, were significantly more likely to have undergone FGM/C. Also, the likelihood of having experienced FGM/C was more among women who were presently employed (irrespective of the class of occupation), had female children, and with a poor perception about FGM/C. After including characteristics with p < 0.05 into multivariate logistic regression model with practice of FGM/C as the dependent variable, perception about FGM/C (AOR: 0.42; 95% C.I.: 0.24 – 0.72; p = 0.002), employment as a skilled worker (AOR: 0.30; 95% C.I.: 0.13 – 0.69; p = 0.005) and being of Yoruba (AOR: 0.07; 95% C.I.: 0.02 – 0.25; p < 0.0001) and Igbo extraction (AOR: 0.15; 95% C.I.: 0.02 – 0.93; p = 0.042), were independently associated with the experience of FGM/C in the study population. Scaling up media involvement and inclusion of FGM/C facts in school texts and curricula, legal sanctions for erring healthcare workers, female re-orientation to correct wrong perception about FGM/C’s supposed benefits, and accurate data for targeted public health interventions are recommended.
An institutional survey of female genital mutilation in Lagos, South-West, Nigeria
Background: Female genital mutilation (FGM) as a procedure can have serious physical and psychological health consequences in girls and women. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of FGM and the socio-demographic factors which influence the practice among women in Lagos State. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) with eligible participants recruited by consecutive sampling method. Relevant data were collected using a structured questionnaire and physical inspection of the external genitalia was performed on each respondent to confirm the presence and type of FGM. All quantitative data were entered in the computer and analysed using SPSS version 17 for windows. Descriptive statistics were computed for all relevant data. Results: The prevalence of FGM in the study was 56.3% with the largest proportion of the respondents with FGM being women aged 60years and above. The Yoruba ethnic group had the lowest prevalence of FGM (44.2%), while the highest prevalence was found among the Ibos (93.1%) (p=0.025). An almost similar proportion of Christians (53.3%) and Muslims respondents (62.4%) had physical evidence of FGM (p=0.074). Higher levels of maternal education was significantly related to reduction in practice of FGM (p=0.002). Conclusion: There is an urgent need for a better analysis and understanding of the socio-demographic mechanisms sustaining the practice of FGM in Nigeria.
PREDICTORS OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION AMONG WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE IN PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA
Jos Journal of Medicine, 2021
Background: Despite being promoted as a highly valued cultural practice and social norm, female genital mutilation (FGM) is internationally recognized as a gross abuse of the rights of girls and women, and it is associated with adverse health and social consequences along with huge economic costs. This study was aimed at determining the factors associated with FGM among women of reproductive age in Plateau State, Nigeria. Methods: Analysis of secondary data obtained from the Nigeria 2016-17 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) dataset was done. The survey collected data on samples of women within the reproductive age group (15-49years) using a two-stage sampling technique, information was electronically captured using computerassisted personal interviewing. The dataset for Plateau State was extracted and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 23. Results: There were a total of 1172 interview entries in the dataset, however only 247 had filled responses for the question: "ever been circumcised?", the remainder (78.9%) of the entries reflected as missing cases. The mean age of the respondents was 29.5yrs ± 9.3yrs, 63.6% were married or in a union, 86.6% ever attended school, 64.4% were dwelling in a rural area and 76.1% felt the practice of FGM should be discontinued. Forty (16.2%) respondents reported been circumcised. The odds of being circumcised were significantly higher for the younger age group (15-23 years), those without a formal education, belonging to a middle wealth quintile, and women wanting the practice of FGM to be continued (p ˂ 0.05). Conclusion: A significant proportion of women of reproductive age in Plateau State are circumcised. Therefore, there is a need to further improve extant efforts addressing FGM including awareness creation on its adverse consequences especially among the younger women, the uneducated, and the poor.