PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF FEMALE GENITAL CUTTING AMONG WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE ATTENDING PRIMARY HEALTH CARE IN UGBEKUN, BENIN CITY

ABSTRACT

Female genital cutting is a harmful traditional practice in Africa that has adverse effects on the physical, psychological, asexual and reproductive health of women. This study aims to ascertain the prevalence of female genital cutting, the factors influencing it's practice, the relationship between the prevalence of female genital cutting and the factors influencing its practice among women of reproductive age attending primary healthcare centre in Ugbekun, Benin city. A descriptive cross-sectional  survey was used .A sample of 220 women were selected, using a convenient sampling technique. Self-structured questionnaire was used as an instrument of data collection. Analysis was done with statistical package or social sciences (SPSS).Results from the study showed that(38.2%) of the respondents has undergone female genital cutting while(61.8%)has not undergone female genital cutting. Majority of the respondents (57.3%) revealed that culture and fear of promiscuity are the major factors associated with the practice of female genital cutting while few respondents said that female genital cutting is practice because of religion social reasons and hygienic reasons. This study also revealed that majority of the respondents (67.3%)who has undergone female genital cutting experienced some psycho-sexual effects such as lack of sexual desire, low self-esteem ,poor sexual satisfaction and painful asexual intercourse .Therefore it is recommended that nurses engage some non-health education about health, sexual and psychological consequences of female genital cutting.

KEYWORDS: prevalence, associated factors, female genital cutting, reproductive age.