Practice and knowledge of health risks of female genital mutilation among mothers in akwukabi community, etche local government, rivers state

This study was a descriptive survey of the practice and knowledge of the health risks of Female Genital Mutilation among mothers of Akwukabi community in Etc he LGA of Rivers State. Two objectives and one hypothesis were formulated to guide this study. A sample size of 172 respondents was drawn from the target population of 300 mothers in the community. A self structured questionnaire was used to collect data for the study. Validity and reliability of the instrument was ascertained. Data Analysis was done using descriptive statistics of frequency, percentages and inferential statistics of chi-square test. Findings showed that 117 (68.0%) of the respondents practice female genital mutilation, while 55 (32.0%) do not; 73(42.2%) of the respondents have poor knowledge; 66(38.4%) has fair knowledge and 33(19.2%) has good knowledge of the health risks of Female Genital Mutilation. Test of hypothesis revealed that there is no significant relationship between the mothers’ knowledge of the health risks and the practice of female genital mutilation(X2 Cal.=1.033;X2 Tab.=5.991; df= 2,p>0.05). It is therefore recommended that the government and health care professionals should make use of the dailies, television, internet and radio to educate the populace, on health risks of Female Genital Mutilation especially the male folk since they are the major decision makers in African society. In addition punitive measures should be prescribed and implemented against individuals who carry out this practice in order to stop it