Tradition Versus Female Circumcision: A Study Of Female Circumcision Among The Isoko Tribe Of Delta State Of Nigeria

Introduction: Female circumcision is a culturally sanctioned tradition practiced in many Africa countries and has deleterious consequences on women’s health, sexuality and fertility. Objective: To determine the extent of the practice and factors that influence decisions on female circumcision. Methods: The first 700 female patients attending clinics at the General Hospital Oleh, a suburb an community, were recruited during a 6 months period (May – October 2007). Results: Data analyzed from 630 of them showed a high significant rate of circumcision (66%) (P<0.05), the rate being higher among the married females. Majority of the circumcisions were done at marriage (71%). Principal reason for circumcision was tradition (79%). Only 16.7% of circumcised female, below age 16 years, had some form of complication immediately after the procedure. Conclusion: Suggestions to counter the practice include enlightenment campaign aimed principally at custodians of cultural values, including women in various setting, and the introduction of sexuality education into the educational system.