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ABSTRACT
Female genital mutilation is one of the harmful socio-cultural practice affecting women in the world and is commonly practice in Africa. Globally, FGM is of public health importance because of its high prevalence and association with maternal and child morbidity. Notably, each year 3.6million girls are at risk of FGM and estimate of more than 200 million girls and women has been mutilated worldwide. Though, numerous reasons were revealed as to why FGM is been practiced. But whatever the reasons given, it is interesting that FGM is of no health value rather injurious to health. Several studies on FGM yielded negative consequences on the victims, but the FGM consequences as perceived by reproductive age girls of Ofuoma community still remain unrevealed. As such, four research questions were raised as a guide for the study and a descriptive survey research design was conducted among reproductive age girls of Ofuoma Community (n=137). Data was collected using structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented in tables. The results in this study show a high prevalence of FGM among reproductive age girls of Ofuoma. Also, culture and curbing promiscuity in women were the common reasons for FGM in Ofuoma community as revealed by majority of the respondents. Additionally, majority of reproductive age girls of Ofuoma Community perceived pain, bleeding, infections, painful sex and reduced sexual desire, emotional/psychological trauma as a result of FGM. To end FGM practice, majority of the respondents revealed that awareness creation on FGM consequences, girls' empowerment and community mobilization are of importance. Based on the findings, it is recommended that public health education and enlightenment campaign program should be created and increased to educate the general public through mass and social media on the implications/consequences of FGM on reproductive age girls. Also, women/girls should be empowered to increase their decision making prowess to refuse FGM on themselves and their children. In addition, anti-FGM law should be enforced to bring every perpetrators to book.
