Religion, Culture and Medicine Analysis of Female Genital Mutilation amongst 84 Antenatal Clinic Attendees at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital

Introduction: Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) or Female Circumcision (FC) have been influenced by religion, culture and medicine. The practice of FGM have been associated with myriads of negative health consequences, resulting in its abolishment by the World Health Organization (WHO). This is unlike male circumcision which is well accepted by most religions of the world, culture and medically.

Aim: To ascertain the influence of religion, culture and medicine as regards FGM amongst antenatal clinic (ANC) attendees at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH).

Methods: It was a cross sectional study of ANC attendees at The RSUTH. The Information was retrieved using a self structured questionnaire which was coded and analyzed using SPSS version 25.

Results: A total number 84 ANC attendees were recruited for the study. The mean age was 30.7 years and the modal parity was 1. The mean gestational age was 15.8 weeks. Twenty (23.8%) respondents had FC, all of whom were Christians. Eighteen (21.4%) of the respondents were of the opinion that FGM was a good practice; while 66 (78.6%) respondents believed that FGM was a wrong practice. The 2 most common reasons for FGM were to prevent promiscuity 7 (8.3%) and cultural reasons 7 (8.3%). The commonest known complication by respondents following FGM was bleeding from the genital tract 24 (28.6%).

Conclusion: The prevalence of FGM from the study was 23.8% amongst ANC attendees at the RSUTH. Religion, culture and medicine may play vital roles in the eradication of FGM in our sub-region as recommended by WHO.