Abstract

Background: The practice of female genital cutting has negative impacts on reproductive health and this has long term implications on the life of the girl child and the society. The study was aimed to determine the prevalence and maternal factors associated with female genital cutting of daughters in Nigeria. Methods: This was a secondary data analysis of the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey. Data on 23,615 respondents were extracted from 38, 308 participants. This was based on respondents with complete data on outcome variable of interest. Chi-square test of statistical significance and multivariate analysis using binary logistic regression was used in the analysis and the level of statistical significance was determined by a p value of less than 0.05. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 33.6±7.4 years. The prevalence of female genital cutting of daughters was 23.9%. Traditional circumcisers performed the majority of circumcisions, 79.9% and majority 91.9% were done during infancy. Predictors of circumcision of daughters included mother being circumcised, (AOR; 16.3, 95% CI=14.8-17.9), having no formal education, (AOR; 1.7, 95%CI=1.4-2.1), residing in urban area, (AOR; 0.8, 95%CI=0.7-0.8), and being in the poor wealth index, (AOR; 1.3, 95%CI=1.1-1.5). Conclusion: The prevalence of circumcision of the girl child in Nigeria is still high and majority of the procedure are performed by traditional circumcisers. The non-circumcision of the girl child today is of positive value to the discontinuation of the practice of female genital cutting in future and this should be focus of all stakeholders at present. Adequate attention should be given to the education of the girl child and the economic empowerment of women.