Female genital mutilation/cutting in Nigeria: Is the practice declining? A descriptive analysis of successive demographic and health surveys and multiple indicator cluster surveys (2003–2017)

Abstract

among those whose mothers had lived in their current community for more than a year prior to the survey. Compared with their mothers, the majority of girls who had undergone FGM/C were cut at earlier ages, were more likely to be cut by traditional practitioners, and to undergo Types I and II of the practice (clitoridectomy and excision) than Types III and IV. Over time, the proportion of women cut by health practitioners remained stable, while among girls this percentage decreased. Next steps Reduction in FGM/C prevalence rates constitutes an important stage in the FGM/C abandonment process. In light of the current results, which did not capture several interdependent factors that have an impact on FGM/C, the next phase of this study will involve conducting multivariate and survival analyses using advanced statistical methods. These methods are necessary to account for other factors that may confound the results of the observed prevalence rates and trends in the practice. For instance, using survival analysis, we may account for the rate at which girls are cut given their time of exposure. The advanced analysis will further examine possible influences of the geographical locations of the respective populations of interest.

Evaluating changes in the prevalence of female genital mutilation/cutting among 0-14 years old girls in Nigeria using data from multiple surveys: A novel Bayesian hierarchical spatio-temporal model

“…These results agreed with findings from previous studies [11,17,[27][28][29][45][46][47]. For example, it was found that education plays an important role in a mother's decision on whether her daughter will be cut or not [27], with mother's who had higher education less likely to cut their daughters in Nigeria [11]. This inverse relationship between a Nigerian woman's level of education and the likelihood of FGM/C was also reported in a scoping review of the determinants of FGM/C in Nigeria by Mberu in 2017 [17].…”

“…These results agreed with findings from previous studies [11,17,[27][28][29][45][46][47]. For example, it was found that education plays an important role in a mother's decision on whether her daughter will be cut or not [27], with mother's who had higher education less likely to cut their daughters in Nigeria [11].…”

“…In relation to Nigeria, a report by 28 Too Many in 2018 stated that about 20 million Nigerian women and girls have experienced FGM/C [10]. Also, a recent study by Kandala et al estimated that the national prevalence of FGM/C among women (ages 15-49) stood at 18.4% in 2016/17 representing a decline of 11.2% from 29.6% in 2008, while the national prevalence of FGM/C among girls aged 0-14 years in Nigeria stood at 25.3% in 2016/17, representing a decline of 4.7% from 30.0% in 2008 [11]. This implies that while there has been a sharp decline in prevalence among women aged 15-49 years, the practice seems to still hold sway over 0-14 years old girls in Nigeria despite several concerted efforts aimed at the total eradication of the practice.…”

Bivariate Logistic Regression of Knowledge as Predictor of the Practice of Female Genital Mutilation in Ekiti State, Nigeria

“…However, a recent national survey revealed that there was a slight decline in prevalence of FGM/C in the Southern and Eastern Nigeria, the practice was still widely practiced (Demographic, 2019;Kandala et al, 2020). About 19.9 million women had been cut resulting into 16% of the global prevalence.…”

“…The regional prevalence report established that the South-West had 41.1%, South-East 32.5%, 25.8 % was reported in South-South, 20.7% in North-West, 9.9% in North-Central and 2.9% was observed in the North East of Nigeria. Ekiti-State had the second overall prevalence of 62.6% after Osun-State with 67.8%, Oyo-State and Kwara-State was third with 55% each and Imo-State was fourth with 51.6% (Demographic, 2019;Kandala et al, 2020).…”