Young girls on the African continent and around the world are increasingly subjected to an lesser known but dangerous practice known as breast ironing. The procedure, also known as breast flattening, the involves the flattening or massaging of a young girl's developing breasts using hot objects, like heated stones or spatulas, to delay the onset of puberty in girls to deter sexual attention. Observers have described breast ironing as a form of violence against girls as it causes severe pain, tissue damage, infection and psychological trauma. According to the United Nations, an estimated 3.8 million women are affected by this practice in many parts of Africa, but mainly Cameroon and Nigeria. Salem Solomon narrated this story, filed by Gibson Emeka.
