Parental Attitude on Eradication of the Practice of Female Genital Mutilation: The Role of a Counsellor

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a harmful traditional Practice prevalentamong many ethnic groups in Nigeria and is fraught with many complications.In spite of the intervention campaigns by the Government and Nongovernmental Organisations, the National Demographic and Health Surveysof 2003 and 2008 reported that the percentage of Nigerian womencircumcised had increased from 19 to 30 percent within five years. Thisstudy therefore, examines the parents’ perception on eradication of thepractice of FGM in Ogun and Osun States, Nigeria. A total of 756respondents comprising 378 male and female adults and 378 male andfemale adolescents participated in the study. Female Genital MutilationAwareness Questionnaire (FGMAQ) was administered on the respondentsto collect data on their level of awareness on FGM as well as their attitudetowards eradicating FGM practice. Results from percentages and chi-squarestatistical analysis of data revealed that more than half (54.9%) of therespondents favoured the practice of FGM as they believed it upholdstradition and reduces sexual immorality, an attitude that is completelyoblivious of its harmful effect and complications arising from it. Therefore,there is need for a well-coordinated professional counselling intervention toeradicate the practice of FGM.