PARENTAL ATTITUDE AND FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION IN RIVERS STATE: IMPLICATIONS FOR COUNSELLING.

Abstract

It is for the most part accepted that singular mentalities of guardians and other relatives affect choices connected with female genital mutilation, such perspectives are impacted by normal practices in the general public. This study examines parental attitude and female genital mutilation in Rivers State, implication for counseling. A survey design was adopted for the study. The sample consisted of four hundred (400) women, drawn from four (4) local government areas namely; Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor, (Urban) Khana and Ahoada East (Rural) respectively. The respondents to the study were chosen through a straightforward method of random sampling. An instrument named; The self-designed Parental Attitude and Female Genital Mutilation Questionnaire (PAFGMQ) was utilized for data collection. The instrument was approved by specialists from the Division of Brain science, Ignatius Ajuru College of Training, Streams State. Cronbach alpha insights was utilized to decide the dependability under of 0.81 for the instrument, the information gathered were examined involving mean scores for the exploration inquiries while the invalid speculations were tried with individual item second relationship coefficient. The major findings of the study reveal that, female genital mutilation heightens the risk of psychological problems and emotional trauma among women. The study recommends among others that Rivers State Government should enforce the existing laws on female genital mutilation and ensure strict compliance by those concerned.