Assessing Socio-Cultural Factors That Still Preserve Female Genital Mutilation Practice Among Women In Selected Rural Communities Of Enugu State

ABSTRACT

The study examined the socio-cultural factors that still preserve female genital mutilation practice among women in selected rural communities of Enugu State. Five objectives and two null hypotheses were raised to guide the study. The study adopted the descriptive survey design. A sample of 419 women aged 15-49 years were drawn from estimated 145,905 women in rural communities in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State using convenient sampling technique. Data were collected using researcherdeveloped 36-item questionnaire. Statistical analysis was done using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) Version 17. Major findings revealed that high percentage of women almost half of the women studied 46.3% still practice female genital mutilation in the studied rural communities. The strongest social factors that preserves the practice of female genital mutilation were the belief that it controls sexual desires and promiscuity among women – mean =3.23 and SD = 6.14); 157 (52.3%) strongly agreed. The most strongly agreed cultural factors preserving the practice of female genital mutilation were that it is done in order to initiate girls into womanhood strongly agreed by 138 (46%); mean = 3.02 SD = 4.72. The study concluded that many women still practice female genital mutilation in the rural communities studied and actually they encourage its continuity. They study recommends more sensitization campaign on the social structures supporting the practice. Efforts of stakeholders in health should be geared towards planning and implementing aggressive programmes aimed at creating more awareness on the negative effects of female genital mutilation and its practice.