Peer-reviewed article
Pattern of Female Genital Mutilation among Adolescents Attending Secondary Schools' in Enugu Metropolis.
Chinawa AT, Chinawa JM, Ossai EN, Aronu AE, Ozokoli GE et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study surveyed 414 adolescent girls aged 13-21 years in secondary schools in Enugu, Nigeria to understand the prevalence and patterns of female genital mutilation (FGM). The prevalence of FGM among respondents was 9.4%, with most girls aware of the practice and its complications. Fathers' education level was strongly associated with lower FGM rates, with girls whose fathers had tertiary education being three times less likely to be circumcised.
Key points
- Prevalence of FGM among adolescents aged 13-21 years in Enugu metropolis was 9.4%
- 93.7% of respondents were aware of female circumcision
- Major complications reported were painful urination and menstrual problems
- Girls whose fathers attained tertiary education were three times less likely to be circumcised compared to those whose fathers had secondary education or less
- Only 5.8% of respondents believed all females should be circumcised
Limitations
This is a descriptive cross-sectional study without comparison groups, so it cannot establish causation. The study is limited to secondary school students in one metropolitan area, which may not represent all adolescents or rural populations in Nigeria.
Abstract
Background Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a public health menace and it study among adolescents is not exhaustive. Objectives The aim is to study the prevalence, pattern, cultural values, health implications and consequences of FGM among adolescent females attending secondary schools in Enugu metropolis. Methods A descriptive study involving female adolescents aged 13-21 years recruited by multistage sampling in three Girls Secondary Schools in Enugu Metropolis. Results Four hundred and fifty (450) questionnaires were distributed and four hundred and fourteen (414) were retrieved. The parents with moderate value for culture and tradition had the highest circumcised respondents (7.8%) (p = 0.056). Majority of the respondents, 93.7% were aware of female circumcision. The major complications of female circumcision according to the respondents were painful urination and menstrual problems. The prevalence of female circumcision among the respondents was 9.4%. A minor proportion of the respondents, 5.8% were of the opinion that all females should be circumcised. Respondents whose fathers attained tertiary education were three times less likely to be circumcised when compared with those whose fathers attained secondary education and less (adjusted odds ratio = 0.3; 95% CI: 0.3-1.5). Conclusion Prevalence of FGM among adolescents aged 13-21 years in Enugu metropolis was 9.4%. Majority of the respondents had good knowledge of FGM, and major complications noted were painful urination and menstrual problems. Fathers education level is a very strong reason for this high awareness of FGM among female adolescents.