The impact of health education on attitudes towards female genital mutilation (FGM) in a rural Nigerian community.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the level of practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) and the impact of a health education intervention in Shao community.


METHODS
Intervention study using a multistage sampling technique. The instrument was a pre-tested, structured questionnaire. The survey was supplemented by an in-depth interview of the traditional excisors.


RESULTS
Most respondents (88.0%) cited traditional excisors as operators of the procedure, while 7.8% mentioned health workers. Factors found to be statistically significantly associated with the practice of FGM are age, gender and educational status of respondents (p<0.05). The age at which FGM is usually performed was put at under one year old by 60.3% of respondents. All respondents cited type II FGM as the type practised in the community. Most (88.0%) of the female respondents were excised. A greater proportion of men than women did not want the practice of FGM stopped in the pre-intervention stage; however, there was a statistically significant decrease in the proportion of males who did not want the practice of FGM stopped in the post-intervention stage. Also, there was a statistically significant increase in the proportion of respondents who had no intention to excise future female children in the post-intervention stage (p<0.05). Legislation, female literacy and empowerment, educating men and provision of alternative vocation for excisors were means suggested by respondents for stopping the practice.


CONCLUSIONS
The health education intervention had a positive impact on the attitude of respondents towards FGM. However, for sustainable behavioural changes that will lead to elimination of FGM practice, we recommend placing FGM elimination efforts within a comprehensive development strategy and the larger context of reproductive health and gender education in Nigeria.
Asekun-Olarinmoye
Esther O
EO
Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria. estoaskol@yahoo.com
Amusan
Oluwatoyin A
OA
D000328:Adult; D000884:Anthropology, Cultural; D019093:Circumcision, Female / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires