Osun ranks highest in female genital mutilation in Nigeria, followed by Ekiti

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
on Thursday said that Osun still recorded
highest prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation
(FGM) in Nigeria with over 76.3%. .
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Mrs Damilola Obinna, a Gender Analyst with
UNFPA, said FGM was high in the South-West
in spite of the geo-political zone’s high
literacy and awareness rate. She said that the
statistics was arrived at after a survey was
carried out by UNFPA in collaboration with
UNICEF in 2015.
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“After data collation and analysis, we
discovered that Osun had 76.3% prevalence
rate, Ekiti had 71.2, Oyo, 69.7; Ebonyi, 55.6;
Imo, 48.8; and Lagos, 44.8. There is no single
benefit in the practice of female genital
mutilation; yet, the practice is high even
among the educated.
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Aside from the immediate risks of FGM which
includes haemorrhage, infections, and death,
survivors of FGM are liable to present later in
their lives recurring urinary tract infections,
menstrual problems, reproductive tract
infections, depression, sexual dysfunction and
pain, and chronic genital pain.
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They are also at risk for several adverse
complications for both mother and newborn
during childbirth,’’ she said. Obinna said that
in Lagos, the awareness of FGM was high but
statistics showed that four out of 10 girls or
women had undergone female genital
mutilation.
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She said that Lagos Island L.G.A. recorded
the highest prevalence with 51.6% while
Somolu L.G.A. had the lowest prevalence with
20.9%. “We discovered that most Lagos
indigenes don’t cut their girls but the people
who moved into Lagos, moved in with their
culture which includes FGM.
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These people who still practice FGM claimed
that it is a social expectation that most be
carried out and that it cannot be stopped,’’
she said. Obinna urged state governments to
enact laws that would prohibit FGM in their
states.