The awareness and practice of female genital mutilation in Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background The extensive practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) is common in Nigerian societies, and it is generally done on infants as early as eight days after giving birth to them in early childhood, but it is usually done before marriage or before the first child is delivered. FGM has apparently caused pain to women, varying from infection, haemorrhage to difficulty in childbirth, even emotional distress.