Female genital cutting and transmission of HIV/AIDS among women in Calabar Metropolis, Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

A study on Female Genital Cutting (FGC) as a possible transmission route of HIV/AIDS among women in Calabar  Metropolis, Cross River State was conducted using the survey research design. Four hundred (400) respondents were  used for this study, and the purposive and accidental sampling techniques were employed. The work employed primary  sources of data, the questionnaire and some secondary sources from relevant texts. The study considered and made  use of the labeling model as its theoretical consideration. Independent t-test analysis was adopted to test the  hypotheses under study. All hypotheses were tested at .05 level of significance. The major findings were; culture of  silence due to fear, intimidation, threats and violence. These make women silent and powerless on issues of sexual matters and female genital cutting significantly influence transmission of HIV/AIDS among women in Calabar  Metropolis. It was recommended that female genital cutting (FGC) should be eradicated as it has serious lifetime  implications for reproductive, physical, psychological, mental, social and emotional health of girls/women. People living  with HIV/AIDS should be involved in intensified HIV counseling and testing (Operation know your HIV status); A  convenient, confidential and compassionate access to HIV information should be made possible; Counseling, testing  and referrals should exist to eliminate the scourge of HIV in communities. Female education should be made  compulsory in Nigerian society.