Attitudes of female youths towards female circumcision in Nigeria: Implications for future practice

Ambrose Akinlo, Obafemi Awolowo University
Ayodeji J. Kupoluyi, Joseph Ayo Babalola University
Olasupo P. Ogunjuyigbe, Obafemi Awolowo University

Circumcision in Nigeria is done almost universally in infancy, thus giving the circumcised children no chance of choice or meaningful resistance.It is arguable that the attitude/disposition of today’s youths towards female circumcision will be an important factor for either the eradication or the perpetuation of this harmful traditional practice. This paper thus asks: What proportion of youths (females) are currently circumcised? Among youths who are already parents, what proportion circumcised their daughters and what proportion are willing to circumcise their daughters in future? Using the 2008 NDHS, the paper analysed information collected from young women (age 15-24 years) who have heard of female circumcision. The paper found that 45% of respondents had been circumcised and that over a quarter of the young females who had a daughter had circumcised them. Most of the circumcision was performed by traditional "circumcisers" with the possible risk of exposure to tetanus and HIV infections.