Spatiotemporal patterns of female genital mutilation in Nigeria: Evidence from the 2008, 2013 and 2018 NDHS

ABSTRACT

Spatiotemporal patterns of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) among girls 0–14 years in Nigeria were examined based on the 2008, 2013 and 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health surveys using statistical and Geospatial techniques. FGM varied significantly among girls by location and mothers’ characteristics with the highest prevalence in 2008. FGM consistently fell among girls over time in urban areas, southern Nigeria and in most states but increased in Bauchi, Kaduna and Taraba states. Spatial clustering was detected with regional shifts in hotspots from the Southwest in 2008 to the North in 2018. Across survey years, a girl was more likely to be circumcised if her mother was poor, uneducated, Yoruba or Hausa/Fulani/Kanuri/Beriberi, lacked access to all three mass media at least once a week and did not participate in any decision-making in the home. Strategies designed to empower women especially in high-risk states, regions and groups are urgently needed.

KEYWORDS:

• Female genital mutilation
• Spatial patterns
• Temporal patterns
• Spatial autocorrelation
• Nigeria

Ethics statement

Ethical approval was granted for the secondary analysis of existing demographic and health survey data after the removal of all identifying information of the respondents by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the ICF Macro at Calverton, USA in conjunction with the National Health Research Ethics Committee (NHREC) of the Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Nigeria.

Acknowledgement

The author is grateful to ICF International, USA for providing access to the 2008, 2013 and 2018 Demographic and Health Survey data for Nigeria.