The 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) has revealed that the proportion of women who are circumcised decreased from 25 percent in 2013 to 20 percent in 2018.

Mrs. Maureen Zubie-Okolo, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, said this in Port-Harcourt at the Media Dialogue for Editors and Reporters on Data-Driven Reporting and Dissemination of NDHS 2019 Result.

She said that Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) was widely recognized as a violation of human rights, deeply rooted in beliefs and perceptions over decades and generations.

FGM involves partial or total removal of the external genitalia and/or injury to the female genital organs whether for cultural or any other non-therapeutic reasons.

According to Zubie-Okolo, the survey shows that FGM has reduced in the country but the prevalence is a little high in some states, like the South East (Ebonyi and Imo), South West (Ekiti) and the North West (Kaduna).

”Ebonyi has 53 percent,  Imo is 62 percent,  Ekiti is 56 percent while  Kaduna has 49 percent.

”The states that have the lowest are Kogi one percent, Katsina one percent, Sokoto five percent, Zamfara five percent while Kebbi has two percent,” she said.

She said that it has to do with their culture and advised the government to engage the communities to help with sensitization to further reduce the practice.

Zubie-Okolo said that the survey revealed that 79 percent of women who are not circumcised believe that the practice of FGM should not be continued.

NAN