Changing the opinions, beliefs and attitudes of the Efiks, Quas and Efuts of Calabar Municipality towards the practice of female circumcision

Abstract

Objective: To determine the opinion of the Efiks, Quas and Efuts of old Calabar district towards the practice of female circumcision. To examine the beliefs of the Efiks, Quas and Efuts of Calabar towards the practice of female circumcision. To determine the attitude of the Efiks, Quas and Efuts of Calabar towards the practice of female circumcision.
Methods: In order to successfully carry out the study, three research questions and hypothesis were formulated. Literatures were reviewed based on the research variables. The research instrument used for data collection was questionnaire which was administered on three hundred and six (306) respondents who served as the sample for the study. Their responses were analyzed using frequencies, and percentages. Results showed that more than 50% are not in support of the practice and in fact more than 64% will not want their daughters circumcised.
Results: It is observed that majority of educated, well informed and enlightened individuals who are aware of the harmful effects of the female circumcision abhors it. To this extent, proper education, and enlightenment, should be encouraged. Religions and cosmopolitan nature of the city are key to influencing the opinions, beliefs and attitude of the people living there. And finally, majority of the people think that the practice of female circumcision is decreasing in the city. Based on these findings information should continue to be disseminated using mass media and local languages for complete eradication and permanent attitudinal change.
Conclusions: This work highlight the influence of public education and increase awareness from both the rural and urban communities so rooted to their cultures of female circumcision in old Calabar district as bad practice and unacceptable tradition in the 21st century world of today.