title: Female circumcision in Nigeria and attitudes towards its discontinuation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Female Circumcision (FC) is a harmful traditional practice and remains a public health problem particularly in the era of HIV/AIDS. Aside its numerous health implications, it can cause infertility, complications in childbirth and increased risk of newborn deaths. FC is widely practised in Nigeria.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study assessed the level of FC, daughters' circumcision and attitude towards discontinuation of the practice among women of reproductive age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were extracted from the 2008 Nigeria Demographic Health and Survey. Data were analysed using Chi-square and binary logistic regression models (á = 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the respondents, prevalence of FC was 49.2% with 30.6% having circumcised their daughters and 25.8% wishing the practice to continue. About 56% of circumcised women also circumcised their daughters whereas only 2.9% of uncircumcised women circumcised their daughters. Approximately 69.8% of women who had circumcised their daughters would like FC to continue compared to 8.8% of those who never circumcised any of their daughters. The likelihood of FC was higher (OR = 2.07; C.I = 1.85-2.30) among Moslems compare to Christians. Igbo women were less likely to discontinue FC compared to women of Hausa/Fulani ethnic group despite controlling for the confounding variables (OR = 0.57; C.I = 0.35-0.91).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Female circumcision is still practiced in all parts of Nigeria and a high proportion of women reported that the practice should continue. There is need to intensify efforts on the campaign against female circumcision in Nigeria.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Gbadebo
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Afolabi
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Adebowale
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019093:Circumcision, Female / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012938:Social Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires