Assessment of Female Genital Mutilation on Healthy Living of a Girl-Child in Southwest Geo-Political Zone in Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed female genital mutation on the healthy living of a 
girl-child in the southwest geo-political zone in Nigeria. A survey 
research design was to be adopted for this study. The population for 
this study comprised all students of the Secondary Schools in each 
state capital of the Southwest zone states. A sample of one hundred 
students from each of the states in the Southwest zone of Nigeria was 
used for the study. Consequently, a total of six hundred (600) 
respondents were selected for this study. A structured questionnaire 
was the instrument used for the study. An expert was consulted to 
validate the questionnaire and check the expected content of the 
questionnaire developed. The questionnaire was administered to 
students of some secondary schools who are not understudied and a 
reliability coefficient of 0.89 was gotten which pointed out that the 
instrument was reliable. The data collected were analysed using 
descriptive statistics with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 
23.0). The findings of this study revealed that the level of societal 
attitudes towards female genital mutilation practice in Southwest 
Geo-political Zone in Nigeria is poor and the level of prevalence and 
awareness of female genital mutilation on girl-child in Southwest Geo-political Zone in Nigeria is very low. Based on these findings, it was 
recommended among others that all hands must be on deck to protect the wellbeing and fundamental rights of the girl-child across the globe 
through proper sensitization of the dangers attached to female genital 
mutilation.