Brutality to twins in south-eastern Nigeria: what is the existing situation?

Following rumors of some persistence of abuse on twins, a survey was conducted from January through June, 1991 in the rural areas of Efik, Ibibio and Annang tribes of South-Eastern Nigeria to determine the current attitude of the people towards twins and their mothers. Of the 619 women interviewed, 56% cherished having twins; 35% would not desire largely because of the economic and other minor difficulties associated with their up-keep but none of these would abandon the infants. The remaining 9% hold a taboo against twins: as babies derived from the devil, non-human and punishment from the gods for sinfulness. Consequently, 2.3% and 2.6% of the mothers would have their twins rejected and killed respectively and 6% of the twin mothers would be cast out but none killed by their husbands' families. The intention to perpetuate this form of abuse was elicited in all the three tribes but seemed relatively to be most pronounced in Annang people. The information generated, though limited to rural population, suggests that the rejection of twin births has actually not yet disappeared from this part of the country. Health workers in South-Eastern Nigeria who encounter twins with failure to thrive should consider rejection as a possible contributing factor. It would need intensive moral education and religious teaching to stem this brutal culture.