SOCIO-CULTURAL DETERMINANTS OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION (FGM) PRACTICE IN KWARA SOUTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT, KWARA STATE, NIGERIA
Abstract
In most societies where female genital mutilation is practiced and perceived as a cultural tradition which is continuous practice had often debated. The objective of this study is to investigate the sociocultural determinants of female genital mutilation among the people of Kwara South Senatorial District, in Kwara State, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive research design by employing quantitative method. The study made use of questionnaire to gather information from respondents. One hundred and eighty-eight (188) respondents were selected for this study using multistage sampling techniques. The first stage employed a simple random sampling in which three (3) Local Government Areas (LGAs) were selected out of the seven (7) LGAs in the Districts. The second stage adopted a purposive sampling in selecting one urban and one rural areas from each LGAs. Lastly, the study adopted a quota sampling technique, in which questionnaires was distributed to the areas based on their population, and were analyzed and presented as frequency percentage. Findings from the study revealed that majority with 56.3% respondents disagreed that the female genital mutilation practice was as a result of religious rite of purification. About 56.4% majority of the respondents affirmed that poverty/poor living standard do not determine the practice of female genital mutilation. More than half of the total respondents (56.9%) attest to the fact that the practice does not control sexual desire. Also, 62.7% confirmed that the practice is based on cultural believe and indigenous value system. The study further revealed that 53.7% respondents disagreed that illiteracy/insufficient education background do not contribute to the practice of female genital mutilation. Based on this, the study concluded that female genital mutilation is deeply rooted in the cultural system. Therefore, it is recommended that government should empower women and increase awareness about the complications of female genital mutilation, innovative and culturally adapted strategies policies for re-orientation and changing behavior, and stakeholders should work with and not against cultural and community practices and beliefs.
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