Pattern of Female Genital Mutilation among Adolescents Attending Secondary Schools' in Enugu Metropolis.

BACKGROUND

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a public health menace and it study among adolescents is not exhaustive.

OBJECTIVES

The aim is to study the prevalence, pattern, cultural values, health implications and consequences of FGM among adolescent females attending secondary schools in Enugu metropolis.

METHODS

A descriptive study involving female adolescents aged 13-21 years recruited by multistage sampling in three Girls Secondary Schools in Enugu Metropolis.

RESULTS

Four hundred and fifty (450) questionnaires were distributed and four hundred and fourteen (414) were retrieved. The parents with moderate value for culture and tradition had the highest circumcised respondents (7.8%) (p = 0.056). Majority of the respondents, 93.7% were aware of female circumcision. The major complications of female circumcision according to the respondents were painful urination and menstrual problems. The prevalence of female circumcision among the respondents was 9.4%. A minor proportion of the respondents, 5.8% were of the opinion that all females should be circumcised. Respondents whose fathers attained tertiary education were three times less likely to be circumcised when compared with those whose fathers attained secondary education and less (adjusted odds ratio  = 0.3; 95% CI: 0.3-1.5).

CONCLUSION

Prevalence of FGM among adolescents aged 13-21 years in Enugu metropolis was 9.4%. Majority of the respondents had good knowledge of FGM, and major complications noted were painful urination and menstrual problems. Fathers education level is a very strong reason for this high awareness of FGM among female adolescents.