Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) Practice in Nigeria

Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) Practice in Nigeria

In many cultures, Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting is a recognised and accepted practice that is considered important for the socialization of women, curbing their sexual appetites and preparing them for marriage. It is considered part of a ritual initiation into womanhood that includes a period of seclusion and education about the rights and duties of a wife.
Despite its cultural importance, FGM has drawn considerable criticism because of the potential for both short- and long-term medical complications, as well as harm to reproductive health and infringement on women’s rights (Toubia, 1995).
– National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) 2013

FGM is the "any partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or any other injury to the female genital organ for nonmedical reasons." The World Health Organization (WHO) 1997.
FGM is also known as “female Genital Cutting (FGC)”, “Female Circumcision”, or “Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C)”

Situation of FGM/C in Nigeria (NDHS 2013)
An estimated 19.9 million Nigerian women have undergone FGM/C
meaning that approximately 16% of the 125 million FGM/C survivors worldwide are Nigerians (NPoPC 2014)

Overall prevalence of FGM/C among girls and women aged 15-49 years in Nigeria (27%) is lower than in many countries (NDHS 2013).
However, due to its large population, Nigeria has the third highest absolute number of women and girls (19.9 million) who have undergone FGM/C worldwide (after Egypt and Ethiopia)

The 2013 NDHS collected information about FGM/C in Nigeria from all women age 15-49yrs. The topics covered included knowledge and prevalence of FGM/C, type of circumcision, age at circumcision, and attitudes toward the practice of circumcision.

1. 27% of women age 15-49 has been circumcised.

2. 82% of women in Nigeria undergo FGM before age 5.

3. FGM is more prevalent in the southern zones than in the northern zones. States with the highest prevalence Osun (77%), Ebonyi (74%) , Ekiti (72%), Imo (68%) and Oyo (66%)

4. Knowledge of FGM is higher among Yoruba women than among women in any other ethnic group in Nigeria.

5. FGM is most prevalent among Yoruba women (55%), followed by Igbo women (45%)

6. Infibulation is more prevalent in Nasarawa (22%), Kaduna (21%), and Bayelsa (20%) than in other states.

7. Proportion of FGM among girls age 0-14 is higher among those whose mothers have also been circumcised.

8. The higher a mother’s level of education, the less likely her daughter has been circumcised.

9. 26% of girls age 0-14 whose mothers were infibulated were also circumcised and had their genital area sewn closed.

10. 87% of girls age 0-14 and 80% of women age 15-49 were cut by a traditional agent (Circumciser, TBA, & others). 12% of girls and 13% of women were cut by a medical professional (Doctor, Nurse/Midwife and others)

11. 68% of women and 57 % of men who have heard of FGM believe that the practice is not required by their religion.

12. 64% of women and 62% of men think that the practice of FGM should not continue.

**If this post gets up to a thousand(1000) votes, I would do a second series on the post.
Thanks
From Miracle IC