Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Prevalence of female genital mutilation among female infants in Kano, Northern Nigeria

  • General Gynecology
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives

To determine the prevalence and type of female genital mutilation (FGM) among female infants, reasons and attitude of the mothers to the practice.

Design

A cross sectional descriptive study.

Setting

Tertiary centre in Kano Northern Nigeria.

Method

A Pretested questionnaire was administered for mothers of female infants presenting for routine immunization in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH). A total of 250 questionnaires were administered, but only 200 were properly filled and this was used for the analysis.

Main outcome measures

Prevalence and type of FGM, reason for and attitude of mothers towards FGM.

Results

Twenty-six infants had FGM during the period of study, giving a prevalence rate of 13 %. The mean age at cutting was 8 days ± 7.3. The commonest type of FGM was type I accounting for 96.2 % of the cases. Tradition/culture was the commonest reason for mutilation accounting for 73.1 %, other reasons included; religious in 11.5 %, hygienic in 11.5 % and to preserve virginity in 3.8 %. Traditional barbers were the commonest operators in 80.8 % of cases, followed by the nurse/midwife in 15.4 % of cases. The fathers were the main decision makers in 46.2 %, followed by both parents in 26.9 % and grandparents in 15.4 % of the cases. 84 % of mothers were not in support of the practice. Thirteen percent of the clients would circumcise all their daughters. Forty-eight percent of the clients were of the opinion that FGM cause harm to the victims. Four percent of those whose daughters were yet to be circumcised will do so later.

Conclusion

Female genital cutting is still practiced in our environment. Educational enlightenment is fundamental in changing public opinion as well as in offering reasonable alternative to FGM. Campaign against the practice of FGM should be encouraged to eradicate its practice.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Toubia N (1994) Female circumcision as a public health issue. N Engl J Med 331:712–716

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. (1997) Female genital mutilation. A joint WHO/UNICEF/UNFRPA statement. World Health Organization, Geneva

  3. Hosken FP (1992) Genital and sexual mutilation of females. The Hosken report. Third review edition. Women International Network News (WINN). 18:4

  4. Odoi AT, Brody SP, Elkins TE (1997) Female genital cutting in rural Ghana, West Africa. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 97:179–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Taba AH (1979) Female circumcision. In: traditional practices affecting the health of women and children, vol 2. WHO/EMRO Technical Publication, geneva, pp 43–52

  6. Omale AE, Ogunniyi SO, Iliyasu Z (2004) Complications of female genital mutilation in Ile-Ife Nigeria: a ten year review. Nig J Basic Clin Sci 2:50–54

    Google Scholar 

  7. Odoi AT (2005) Female genital mutilation. In: Kwawukume EY, Emuveyan EE (eds) Comprehensive gynaecology in the tropics, 1st edn. Graphic Packaging Limited, Levin, pp 268–278

  8. Laycock HT (1950) Surgical aspects of female circumcision in Somaliland. EAMJ 445–450

  9. Diejomaoh FME, Faal MKB (1981) Adhesion of the labia minora complicating circumcision in the neonatal period in a Nigerian community. Trop Geogr Med 33:135–138

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. (1997) Female genital mutilation: an overview. World Health Organization, Geneva

  11. Dirie M, Lindmark G (1992) The risk of medical complications after female circumcision. East Afr Med J 69:479–482

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. El-Dareer A (1983) Complications of female circumcision in the Sudan. Trop Doct 13:131–133

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Agugua N, Egwatu V (1982) Female circumcision. Management of urinary complication. J Trop Pediatr 28:248–252

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Aziz F (1980) Gynaecologic and obstetric complications of female circumcision. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 17:560–563

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Elchalal U, Ben-Ami B, Gillis R, Brzezinski A (1997) Ritualistic female genital mutilation: current Status and future outlook obstet. Gynaecol Surv 52:643–651

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Ozumba B (1992) Acquired gynaetresia in eastern Nigeria. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 37:106–109

    Google Scholar 

  17. Version I (1975) Sequence of female circumcision. Trop Doct 5:163–169

    Google Scholar 

  18. De-Silva S (1985) Obstetric Sequence of female circumcision. Eur J Obstet Gynaecol Reprod Biol 32:233–240

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Brown Y et al (1989) Female circumcision. Can Nurs 85:19–22

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Marleod T (1994) Female genital mutilation. BMJ 9:832

    Google Scholar 

  21. Meniru G (1994) Female genital mutilation. BMJ 9:832

    Google Scholar 

  22. Ali MMO, Alla M (1998) Female genital mutilation as a cause of female infertility. Fertil Steril 70:451

    Google Scholar 

  23. Dorkenoo E, Salla E (1992) Female genital mutilation; proposals for change, vol 5. Minority rights publication, London, pp 44

    Google Scholar 

  24. Elgaali M, Strevens H, Mardh PA (2005) Female genital mutilation an exported medical hazard. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care 10:93–97

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Al-Hussain TK (2003) Female genital cutting-types, motives and perineal damage in labouring Egyptian women. Med princ pract 123–128

  26. Abubakar I, Iliyasu Z, Kabiru M, Uzoho CC, AbdulKadir MB (2004) Knowledge, attitude and practice of female genital cutting among antenatal patients in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. Kano Niger J Med 13:254–258

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Mandara MU (2004) Female genital mutilation in Nigeria. Int J Gynecol Obstet 84:291–298

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. (2006) Female genital mutilation (fact sheet no. 241), WHO, Geneva

  29. Gregory JB, Steven SJ, Christopher PP, Neville JT (2000) Circumcision of healthy boys: criminal assault? J Law Med 7:301

    Google Scholar 

  30. El-Defrawi MH, Lofty G, Dandash KF, Refaat AH, Eyada M (2001) Female genital mutilation and its psychosexual impact. J Sex Marital Ther 27:465–473

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Elnashar A, Abdelhady R (2007) The impact of female genital cutting on health of a newly married women. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 97(238):44

    Google Scholar 

  32. Mohammad AT, Mohsen AG, Mahmoud NA, Mostafa A, Esmat M, Mona S (2008) Prevalence of female genital cutting among Egyptian girls. Bull World Health Organ 86:269–274

    Google Scholar 

  33. FIGO Ethical Committee Resolution On FGM. 1994. http://www.figo.org/projects/general assembly-resolution

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Bayero University/Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, PMB 3452, Kano, Nigeria

    I. D. Garba, Z. Muhammed, I. S. Abubakar & I. A. Yakasai

Authors
  1. I. D. Garba
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Z. Muhammed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. I. S. Abubakar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. I. A. Yakasai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Z. Muhammed.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Garba, I.D., Muhammed, Z., Abubakar, I.S. et al. Prevalence of female genital mutilation among female infants in Kano, Northern Nigeria. Arch Gynecol Obstet 286, 423–428 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-012-2312-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-012-2312-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation