Prevalence of female circumcision among children presenting in a semi-urban Tertiary Teaching Hospital in South West Nigeria

Abstract

Female circumcision also known as female genital mutilation (FGM) is the total or partial cutting / removal of the external female genitalia or injury to the female genital organ for non-medical reason. This study was to determine the current prevalence of FGM among children brought for medical care and identify the prevailing factors contributing to this practice. The study was carried out among 200 consecutive new female children with age <or= 15 years presenting at the out-patient (OPD) and children emergency ward (CHEW) of XXXX teaching hospital. Ethical approval from the institution and parental informed consent were obtained. A research proforma was administered on each subject for their bio data anthropometric clinical data and questions to determine the prevalence and the factors influencing the act of FGM. Prevalence of female circumcision was 30% as 60 of the 200 subjects were circumcised. Female genital cutting was done during infancy in 50 (81.6%) of the subjects and 42 (70%) of those circumcised had type 1 FGM. Fever irritability external genital ulcer and pus discharge were the immediate complications. Health workers were involved in 62.3% instances of FGM. It is still commonly practiced among the study population irrespective of parents’ level of education. FGM is an infringement on the physical and psychosexual integrity of the female child and constitute a health hazard. Health education is needed across board to eradicate the practice. Copyright © 2016 International Research Journals.