Determinants and Health Consequences of Female Genital Mutilation among Women of Child Bearing Age in Ife East Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria
Olubayo-Fatiregun
Abstract
This study investigated the determinants of wellness and health consequences of female genital mutilation among
women of child bearing (WCB) age in Ife east Local Government Area, Nigeria. Descriptive survey design was
adopted for the study; the population consists of women of child bearing age in Ife East LGA. The purposive
sampling techniques were adopted in selecting a total sample size of 400 WCB from the population. A self
structured questionnaire which was duly validated and found reliable with its reliability ascertained through test
re-test method with a reliability coefficient of 0.86 was used to elicit information from the respondents. Four
questions were raised to guide the study. The data collected were subjected to appropriate descriptive statistics of
frequency counts and simple percentage. The result revealed that the research questions on educational factor
and socio-cultural factors with 54.5% and 59.5% respectively were strong determinants of FGM while religious
factors with 41% was less recognized as a determinant. The WCB with (55.5%) agree that the health
consequences of FGM are numerous and of serious consequences to wellness of women. The findings were
discussed and were recommended that the reproductive health workers and other health experts should
emphasize the ills of FGM. It was also recommended that policy makers should organize seminars, workshops
and health talks with community leaders and all health advocates bringing to their awareness the ills of FGM and
other harmful health practices to enhance wellbeing of WCB and women generally.
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