ATTITUDES AND PERCEPTIONS TOWARDS FEMALE GENITAL CUTTING IN NSUKKA L.G.A

ABSTRACT

The issues of Female Genital Cutting are currently pervasive phenomenon that affects the statues of women throughout the whole world thereby attracting global concern. Female genital cutting is a harmful cultural practice that infringes on human rights of women. It is a clear manifestation of the social disadvantages women face in Africa compared to their men counterpart. There are no justifiable or medically acceptable reasons to this practice. The objective of this study is to know the attitudes and perceptions of people toward the practice of FGC in Nsukka local government Area and the reasons for the practice. The basic instrument for data collection was questionnaire which was distributed to 200 respondents and was filled appropriately. The questionnaires were computer processed using Statistical Package Data for Social Sciences (SPSS). This was used to analyze and clarify people’s attitudes and perceptions toward the practice of female genital cutting. The hypothesis formulated were tested using “chi square ()”. The findings show that more respondents have bad attitudes and perceptions toward the practice of female genital cutting in Nsukka Local Government and many ways for eradication of the practice was suggested such as women empowerment, public enlightenments, community education, among others.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS. i

LIST OF TABLES. ii

LIST OF ACRONYMS. iii

CHAPTER ONE.. 1

INTRODUCTION.. 1

1.1........................................................................................................... Background to the Study  1

1.2........................................................................................................... Statement of the Problem   3

1.3...................................................................................................................... Research Question  5

1.4................................................................................................................ Objective of the Study  5

1.5............................................................................................................ Significance of the Study  6

1.6.......................................................................................................... Definition of Key concept6

CHAPTER TWO.. 8

2.1.................................................................................................. Theoretical Literature Review.8

2.2.......................................................................................... Overview of female genital cutting:11

2.3................................................................................................. Origin of female genital cutting  12

2.4............................................................................... Religious View of Female Genital Cutting  13

2.5............................................................. The Effects of Female Genital Cutting on the Victim   14

2.5.1 ............................................................................................................... The Physical Effects  14

2.5.2.................................................................................................... Long Term Effects of FGC   14

2.5.3................................................................................... The Effect of FGC during Childbirth  15

2.5.4...................................................... The Link between FGC and the Risk of HIV Infection  15

2.5.5.................................................................. Psychological Effects of Female Genital Cutting  16

2.6.......................................................................... Ways of Eradicating Female Genital Cutting  16

2.7......................... The Roles of Social Workers in the Eradication of Female Genital Cutting  18

2.8..................................................................................................... Review of Relevant Theories  19

2.9.............................................................................................................. Theoretical Orientation  21

2.10................................................................................................................................. Hypotheses  22

CHAPTER THREE.. 23

3.1..................................................................................................................... Design of the study  23

3.2 ................................................................................................................................. Study Area  23

3.3...................................................................................................................... Sample Population  24

3.5................................................................................................ Instruments for Data Collection  26

3.6......................................................................................................... Method of Data Collection  27

3.8............................................................................................................ Method of Data Analysis  27

CHAPTER FOUR.. 28

4.1............................................................................................ Presentation and Analysis of Data  28

4.2.................................................................................................................... Hypotheses Testing  46

4.2.1......................................................................................................................... Hypothesis one  46

4.2.2........................................................................................................................ Hypothesis Two  47

4.2.3..................................................................................................................... Hypothesis Three  48

CHAPTER FIVE.. 50

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS. 50

5.1................................................................................................................. Summary of Findings  50

5.2................................................................................... Implication of the Study to Social Work  53

5.3............................................................................................................. Limitations of the Study  55

5.4 .................................................................................................................................. Conclusion  55

5.5         Recommendations. 56

REFERENCE.. 58

APPENDIX.. 61

QUESTIONNAIRE.. 61

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Distribution of Respondents by sex. 28

Table 2: Distribution of Respondents by age. 28

Table 3: Distribution of Respondents by Marital Status. 29

Table 4: Distribution of Respondents by Level of Education. 30

Table 5: Distribution of Respondents by Religion. 30

Table 6: Distribution of Respondents by Occupation. 31

Table 7: Distribution of Respondents by Area of Residence. 31

Table 8: Percentage distribution of Respondents on whether they have heard about Female Genital Cutting Practice  32

Table 9: Percentage distribution of respondents by what they think female genital cutting is all about33

Table 10: Percentage distribution of respondents by their views on the reasons for the practiced of FGC   34

Table 11: Percentage distribution of respondents by the category of people that practice FGC most.35

Table 12: Percentage distribution of respondents’ on the class of people that the practice of FGC affects most36

Table 13: Percentage distribution of respondents on why parents allow their children to be cut37

Table 14: Percentage distribution of respondents on whether there are health implications of FGC on the victims  37

Table 15: Percentage distribution of respondents on the health implications of FGC.. 38

Table 16: Percentage distribution of respondents by their views on whether there are social implications of FGC   39

Table 17: Percentage distribution of respondents by their views on the social implications of FGC.. 39

Table 18: Percentage distribution of respondents on their thoughts of the psychological Effects of FGC on victims  40

Table 19: Percentage distribution of respondents on whether FGC still exist in Nsukka LGA.. 41

Table 20: Percentage distribution of respondents on their perception of FGC.. 41

Table 21: Percentage distribution of respondents by their thoughts on whether FGC can be curbed. 42

Table 22: Percentage distribution of respondents on ways that FGC can be curbed. 42

Table 23: Percentage distribution of Respondents on whetherthey have heard about the social work profession  43

Table 24: Percentage distribution of respondents on what they know about social work as a profession  44

Table 25: Percentage distribution of Respondents on whethersocial workers can help in the eradication of FGC   45

Table 26: Percentage distribution of respondents on how they think that social workers can help in the eradication of FGC.. 45

 

LIST OF ACRONYMS

FGC                -           Female Genital Cutting

WHO              -           World Health Organization

UNICEF         -           United Nations International Children Emergency Fund

THM               -           Town Hall Meeting

3Rs                  -           Reject Refuse and Resist

LGA                -           Local Government Area

FSLC              ­            First School Leaving Certificate