Girls at risk: FGM intentions among in-school adolescents of a rural community in Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Purpose Knowledge of adolescents’ intention to sustain female genital mutilation (FGM) practice is required to guide efforts to eradicate FGM in Africa and Asia where about 200 million women are affected. Nigeria has one of the highest FGM cases in the world. The study sought to determine the knowledge, attitude, and intentions of adolescents to sustain FGM practice when they become parents. Materials and methods This study is a cross-sectional descriptive survey of 195 in-school adolescents aged 14–19 years, in Imesi-Ile, a rural town in South-west Nigeria selected through a multistage sampling method Results Overall, 44.6% of adolescents had good knowledge of FGM, while 44.6% had a positive attitude and 55.4% had a negative attitude towards FGM. More females (57.4%) have a negative attitude towards FGM. About 42.1% of adolescents intend to continue the practice of FGM, while 47% have no intentions and 10.8% remain undecided. Gender, age group and family affluence were not statistically associated with intention to continue FGM. Conclusion Intention to continue FGM practice is high among adolescents in the rural community. FGM eradication campaign among adolescents should seek to improve knowledge, attitude and intentions towards FGM practice.