THE EFFECTS OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION ON WOMEN’S HEALTH IN ADO LOCAL AREA OF BENUE STATE

Abstract

The practice of genital mutilation on women does not completely capture the real image of the extent of its harmfulness to women heath. This paper therefore seeks to examine the effects of genital mutilation on women’s health in Ado Local Government Area of Benue State. The study is conducted within three (3) selected council wards using a population sampled of 200 of which Questionnaires were used to obtained information such as demographic characteristics of the people and the contributory factors of female genital mutilation in the area. Focus Group Discussion and interview was also used with traditional rulers, village head, clan head and women. Findings show that female genital multination has a lot of negative effect on reproductive health problems on women in Ado LGA of Benue State. The data collected also shows that there was a negative pattern of women's attitude to younger generation towards female genital mutilation in the area. However, it believed that a cultural practice and tradition was a major factors militating against the repulsion to genital mutilation practices in the area, it is a perquisite to marriage and childbirth in the area. Therefore, the government must use anti-female genital mutilation laws if this practice must be abolished in the area.