Female genital cutting among the Hausa community in Sagamu (2005)
This study is a Descriptive research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics:
Author(s): MD Oduwole and CA Iyaniwura
FGM/C Type(s): All
Health area of focus: None.
Objective: To examine the awareness,attitude and practice of female genital cutting among the Hausas who reside in Sagamu
Study Population: Community members
Findings: One hundred and seventy seven females and 68 males were interviewed. The males had a higher level of education compared with the females (p<0.05). Female genital cutting was a prevalent practice in the community as 80% of all the respondents were aware of the practice and 69.9% of the females reported that they were circumcised. The most commonly performed type was Type 1 (sunna),which was usually performed in the first week of life by traditional birth attendants and barber surgeons. The commonly cited reasons for the practice were: to ease delivery (20.6%),religious injunctions (19.1%) and tradition (15.5%). At the household level,fathers were the major decision-makers about female circumcision. The females in the study had a more conservative attitude to female genital cutting,as they tended to support the practice more than the males (64.8% females and 20.5% males). The males were more likely to be aware of the campaign against FGC and were more likely to support the campaign (p<0.05). The study concluded that female genital cutting was a prevalent practice among the study population. There was a need to improve female education among this population,intensify anti-FGC campaigns and more specifically target information at the women
Geographical coverage
Region(s):Western Africa
Country(ies):Nigeria