PERCEIVED CONSEQUENCES OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AMONG WOMEN OF CHILDBEARING AGE IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Abstract Female genital mutilation is a traditional practice in which a person, sometimes semi-skilled, or a health worker cuts off part or whole organs of the female external genitals. However, the experiences of such kind of cutting have lasting negative impacts leading to reproductive consequences that remain with the women of childbearing age (15-49years). The study investigated perceived consequences of female genital mutilation on reproductive health among womenof childbearing age in Kwara State, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to; (i) examine the absence of pleasure during sexual intercourse as a perceived consequence of FGM among women of childbearing age; (ii) ascertain obstructed labour during delivery as a perceived consequence of FGM among women of childbearing age; (iii) assess vagina tear during delivery as a perceived consequence of FGM among women of childbearing age in Kwara State, Nigeria. Descriptive research design of the survey type was adopted for the study; the population of the study comprised all women of childbearing age in the 16 Local Government Areas of Kwara State, Nigeria, with an estimated population of 147,832, ( NPC, 2016). Multistage sampling technique was used to select 1,478 respondents for the study. A researcher designed questionnaire was validated by Five experts. The Split-half method of reliability used yielded a correlation coefficient of 0.87.The Chi-Square (x2) statistic was used to test the hypotheses at0.05 level of Significance. The findings of the study were that; i. Absence of pleasure during sexual intercourse was perceived as a significant consequence of FGM on reproductive health (Calc. x2= 715.09, crt.value16.92). ii. obstructed labour during delivery was perceived as a significant consequence of FGM on reproductive health (calc.x2 = 112.36, crt. value = 16,92); iii. Vaginal tear during delivery was perceived as a significant consequence of FGM on reproductive health (calc.x2 = 1001.13, crt. value = 16,92); The study concluded that there were varying conditions that affect the reproductive health of women of childbearing age as a result of FGM. This implies that any woman who had undergone FGM may be prone to reproductive health hazards. The study, therefore, recommended that health educators should engage in health counselling such as psychotherapy and diversionary therapy for those who had undergone FGM so as to keep their mindset off the presumed consequences. Also, government should enforce the law prohibiting the practice of FGM and reprimand those that are deviants to such law.