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 concept 6

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