Attitudes of Community towards Female Genital Mutilation in Manyoni District, Singida Region, Tanzania

Abstract

The female genital mutilation (FGM) has a series of consequences which most of them lead to discomfort, maternity complications and finally deaths of girls and women. In Tanzania as well as other countries, a number of campaigns have been waged against FGM, but to date the practice still persists. This problem requires critical researches to look for the factors leading to the FGM not to end. Therefore, this study intended to assess the attitudes of people towards the FGM and its social value in order to generate information, which would be useful in conducting more successful campaigns against the practice. The study was conducted in Manyoni District in Singida Region-Tanzania from September to October, 2015. A cross-sectional research design was employed. A total of 120 respondents were selected in the three villages namely Aghondi, Kamenyanga and Mkwese. In each village 40 respondents were randomly selected and subjected to a structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS computer software programme. From the results it was revealed that the overall attitudes of the respondents were as 66.7% accounted for negative, 20.8% neutral and 12.5% of the respondents had positive attitude towards the FGM. Results further show that majority (79.2%) of respondents mentioned increasing chances for marriage as one of the reasons for undergoing FGM practice, (77.5%) mentioned Lawalawa and (76.7%) mentioned signs for sexual maturity. Generally, many people in the District seemed to have negative attitudes towards the FGM. This therefore, entails that FGM could be eradicated as majority of the people have negative attitude towards the practice.