Female genital mutilation in Nigeria

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and distribution of female genital mutilation (FGM) procedures in a Nigerian population. METHODS: Five hundred consecutive women were evaluated for evidence of FGM. The WHO classification system was utilized. Demographic and sociocultural information was collected. RESULTS: Thirty-four percent of women were found to have some type of FGM. Type I and Type II procedures were the most common. Fifty-five percent of women were unaware they had FGM and 62% with FGM did not know the reason. Twenty-one percent of women said they were going to have FGM on their daughters. CONCLUSIONS: FGM is still broadly practiced among ethnic and religious groups in Nigeria. Educational efforts need to be directed at eliminating this practice.