Female genital mutilation/cutting: Knowledge, practice and experiences of secondary school teachers in North Central Nigeria

Abstract

Background. Despite global efforts at eradicating female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), the act continues to be performed globally. Objective. To determine the experience of schoolteachers about FGM/C and their possible role in contributing to its eradication. Methods. A prospective cross-sectional survey involving secondary schoolteachers from 18 secondary schools in Ilorin, North Central Nigeria, was undertaken during October and November 2014. All consenting participants completed a self-administered questionnaire on FGM/C. Statistical analysis was with SPSS version 20.0 with χ 2 and logistic regression; a p-value of <0.05 was considered significant. Results. There were 371 participants (113 males (30.5%) and 258 females (69.5%)). More females than males were aware of FGM/C (205 v. 94; χ 2 41.2; p=0.001); 180 women (69.8%) and 81 men (71.7%) wanted awareness and the implications of FGM/C to be taught in schools, while 46 women (17.8%) and 23 men (20.4%) had previously educated students about FGM/C. Also, 109 (42.3%) of the female teachers had been mutilated (mean (standard deviation) age 4.76 (4.86) years), and 49 mutilations (45.0%) had been performed by traditional circumcisers. Of the teachers, 44.0% of men and 24.5% of women had subjected their daughters to FGM/C (p=0.029), mostly for religious reasons. The men initiated the majority of their daughters' mutilations, while the mothers-in-law were the main initiators among the women; 44 (17.0%) women and 23 (20.4%) men held the opinion that females should be circumcised, while the majority considered education and legislation to be the most important interventions to encourage its eradication. Predictors of the likelihood to support discontinuation of FGM/C include awareness of government policy about FGM/C and having a mutilated daughter. Conclusion. Education, reorientation and motivation of teachers will position them as agents for eradicating FGM/C.

Effect of an Educational Program on Mothers’ Knowledge and Attitudes about Female Genital Mutilation at Tanta City

“…The same was reported by Adeniran et al, (2015) who stated that 43.1% of the participants suggested education as the top priority interventions to stop FGM/C. (15) The current study findings emphasize the importance of public education, and information dissemination in the change of women's attitudes toward FGM/C through the mass media, religious leaders, and opinion leaders. Policies that would ensure the implementation of the legislation against FGM/C should also be put in place by the government.…”

What Factors Influence the Persistence of Female Genital Mutilation in Nigeria ? A Systematic Review

“…"FGM is a tradition in transition". FGM is majorly performed by the traditional practitioners, however, there have been cases were FGM was performed by the health workers [8][9][10]. This is referred to as medicalization of FGM.…”

“…Type 1 and Type 2 are the most commonly practised in Nigeria. However, Type 3 and 4 are more prevalent in the northern states of Nigeria, and these are the most severe form of FGM [9]. The prevalence of FGM varies across different states in Nigeria.…”

Attitudes to female genital mutilation/cutting among male adolescents in Ilorin, Nigeria

“…[12] In a study among schoolteachers, men as fathers were proponents of FGM/C in their daughters (40.9%). [13] Male adolescents who opposed FGM/C in this study considered it an old-fashioned cultural act of wickedness against females. In a report, 72.9% of men supported abolition of FGM/C because of its negative consequences with regard to the woman' s health.…”

“…There have been suggestions that legislation to eradicate FGM/C should be accompanied by other measures to influence the cultural and social norms. [6,13]…”