ABSTRACT
The issues of Female Genital Cutting are currently pervasive phenomenon that affects the statues of women throughout the whole world thereby attracting global concern. Female genital cutting is a harmful cultural practice that infringes on human rights of women. It is a clear manifestation of the social disadvantages women face in Africa compared to their men counterpart. There are no justifiable or medically acceptable reasons to this practice. The objective of this study is to know the attitudes and perceptions of people toward the practice of FGC in Nsukka local government Area and the reasons for the practice. The basic instrument for data collection was questionnaire which was distributed to 200 respondents and was filled appropriately. The questionnaires were computer processed using Statistical Package Data for Social Sciences (SPSS). This was used to analyze and clarify people’s attitudes and perceptions toward the practice of female genital cutting. The hypothesis formulated were tested using “chi square ()”. The findings show that more respondents have bad attitudes and perceptions toward the practice of female genital cutting in Nsukka Local Government and many ways for eradication of the practice was suggested such as women empowerment, public enlightenments, community education, among others.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS. i
LIST OF TABLES. ii
LIST OF ACRONYMS. iii
CHAPTER ONE.. 1
INTRODUCTION.. 1
1.1........................................................................................................... Background to the Study 1
1.2........................................................................................................... Statement of the Problem 3
1.3...................................................................................................................... Research Question 5
1.4................................................................................................................ Objective of the Study 5
1.5............................................................................................................ Significance of the Study 6
1.6.......................................................................................................... Definition of Key concept6
CHAPTER TWO.. 8
2.1.................................................................................................. Theoretical Literature Review.8
2.2.......................................................................................... Overview of female genital cutting:11
2.3................................................................................................. Origin of female genital cutting 12
2.4............................................................................... Religious View of Female Genital Cutting 13
2.5............................................................. The Effects of Female Genital Cutting on the Victim 14
2.5.1 ............................................................................................................... The Physical Effects 14
2.5.2.................................................................................................... Long Term Effects of FGC 14
2.5.3................................................................................... The Effect of FGC during Childbirth 15
2.5.4...................................................... The Link between FGC and the Risk of HIV Infection 15
2.5.5.................................................................. Psychological Effects of Female Genital Cutting 16
2.6.......................................................................... Ways of Eradicating Female Genital Cutting 16
2.7......................... The Roles of Social Workers in the Eradication of Female Genital Cutting 18
2.8..................................................................................................... Review of Relevant Theories 19
2.9.............................................................................................................. Theoretical Orientation 21
2.10................................................................................................................................. Hypotheses 22
CHAPTER THREE.. 23
3.1..................................................................................................................... Design of the study 23
3.2 ................................................................................................................................. Study Area 23
3.3...................................................................................................................... Sample Population 24
3.5................................................................................................ Instruments for Data Collection 26
3.6......................................................................................................... Method of Data Collection 27
3.8............................................................................................................ Method of Data Analysis 27
CHAPTER FOUR.. 28
4.1............................................................................................ Presentation and Analysis of Data 28
4.2.................................................................................................................... Hypotheses Testing 46
4.2.1......................................................................................................................... Hypothesis one 46
4.2.2........................................................................................................................ Hypothesis Two 47
4.2.3..................................................................................................................... Hypothesis Three 48
CHAPTER FIVE.. 50
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS. 50
5.1................................................................................................................. Summary of Findings 50
5.2................................................................................... Implication of the Study to Social Work 53
5.3............................................................................................................. Limitations of the Study 55
5.4 .................................................................................................................................. Conclusion 55
5.5 Recommendations. 56
REFERENCE.. 58
APPENDIX.. 61
QUESTIONNAIRE.. 61
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Distribution of Respondents by sex. 28
Table 2: Distribution of Respondents by age. 28
Table 3: Distribution of Respondents by Marital Status. 29
Table 4: Distribution of Respondents by Level of Education. 30
Table 5: Distribution of Respondents by Religion. 30
Table 6: Distribution of Respondents by Occupation. 31
Table 7: Distribution of Respondents by Area of Residence. 31
Table 8: Percentage distribution of Respondents on whether they have heard about Female Genital Cutting Practice 32
Table 9: Percentage distribution of respondents by what they think female genital cutting is all about33
Table 10: Percentage distribution of respondents by their views on the reasons for the practiced of FGC 34
Table 11: Percentage distribution of respondents by the category of people that practice FGC most.35
Table 12: Percentage distribution of respondents’ on the class of people that the practice of FGC affects most36
Table 13: Percentage distribution of respondents on why parents allow their children to be cut37
Table 14: Percentage distribution of respondents on whether there are health implications of FGC on the victims 37
Table 15: Percentage distribution of respondents on the health implications of FGC.. 38
Table 16: Percentage distribution of respondents by their views on whether there are social implications of FGC 39
Table 17: Percentage distribution of respondents by their views on the social implications of FGC.. 39
Table 18: Percentage distribution of respondents on their thoughts of the psychological Effects of FGC on victims 40
Table 19: Percentage distribution of respondents on whether FGC still exist in Nsukka LGA.. 41
Table 20: Percentage distribution of respondents on their perception of FGC.. 41
Table 21: Percentage distribution of respondents by their thoughts on whether FGC can be curbed. 42
Table 22: Percentage distribution of respondents on ways that FGC can be curbed. 42
Table 23: Percentage distribution of Respondents on whetherthey have heard about the social work profession 43
Table 24: Percentage distribution of respondents on what they know about social work as a profession 44
Table 25: Percentage distribution of Respondents on whethersocial workers can help in the eradication of FGC 45
Table 26: Percentage distribution of respondents on how they think that social workers can help in the eradication of FGC.. 45
LIST OF ACRONYMS
FGC - Female Genital Cutting
WHO - World Health Organization
UNICEF - United Nations International Children Emergency Fund
THM - Town Hall Meeting
3Rs - Reject Refuse and Resist
LGA - Local Government Area
FSLC First School Leaving Certificate
