Socio-cultural factors influencing the practice of female genital mutilation: a case study of ODI community in Kolokuma/Opokuma local government area in Bayelsa state of Nigeria

Background: Female genital mutilation is a cultural practice that has negative consequences on the health of women. The practice is influenced by some socio-cultural factors which has no scientific backing.
Method:  This is a qualitative study that utilized phenomenological approach to explore the meaning of the socio-cultural factors influencing female genital mutilation. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 64 participants for the study. Unstructured In-depth Interview and focus group discussions were the phenomenological methods of inquiry for data collection. Analysis was done using the nine step Hatch’s (2002) analysis process which conforms to phenomenological analysis.
Results: The people of Odi community perceived the practice of FGM to be prestigious and should not be eliminated.  Socio-cultural factors influencing the practice in Odi Community in Bayelsa State are social pressures, rite of passage, to uphold cultural tradition, preserving sexual morality and other myths. The community attributes the consequences of FGM to witchcraft manipulation.
Conclusion:  Female genital mutilation is a practice that is deep rooted in the culture of the Odi people. Much honor and prestige is attached to the practice despite its negative consequences which the community attributes to witchcraft manipulations. This is a wakeup call to the government, non-governmental organizations, health workers and researchers to investigate strategies that would lead to the abandonment of FGM in Odi community. If FGM must be abandoned, it would require continuous education on the harmful effect of this practice, enforcement of the law against female genital mutilation and a rescue camp for those who violates the practice to discontinue the practice.