scholarly journals Female genital mutilation/cutting: risk management and strategies for social workers and health care professionals

2015 ◽  
pp. 225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susie Costello
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Risk Management ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
Female Genital

scholarly journals Female genital mutilation: an update for primary health-care professionals

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikhilesh Todkari
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Female Genital

ABSTRACT Female genital mutilation (FGM) has historically been seen as a health concern limited to women living in other parts of the world. However, with the rising number of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, countries like New Zealand, Australia and Europe have seen a surge in the number of women and girls affected by FGM seeking medical care. This topic is increasingly becoming relevant to primary health-care providers in this country and therefore a good understanding of this practice is important.

scholarly journals Exploring Perceptions of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Abandonment (FGM/C) in Kenyan Health Care Professionals

2021 ◽  
pp. 104973232110159
Author(s):  
Ayaan Mohamud ◽  
Zahida Qureshi ◽  
Gilles de Wildt ◽  
Laura Jones
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
Social Norm ◽  
Cultural Practice ◽  
Educational Approach ◽  
Substantive Theory ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
Core Category ◽  
Female Genital

Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) remains a global problem. We aimed to explore Kenyan health care professionals’ (HCPs) perceptions of FGM/C abandonment and, in particular, those focused on those serving Maasai communities who continue to practice FGM/C. Using a grounded theory Straussian approach, 18 interviews were conducted with HCPs in Kajiado County, Kenya, to understand perceptions of FGM/C as a cultural practice, identify barriers and facilitators to abandonment, and explore attitudes to medicalization (FGM/C conducted by HCPs) and alternatives of FGM/C. Within a substantive theory, one core category (“FGM/C persists but can be abandoned”) comprised two subcategories: “exploring the influencers of persistence” and the “roadmap to abandonment.” HCPs believed collaborative multilateral efforts were necessary to support successful abandonment and that “enlightening” the community needed to focus on changing the perception of FGM/C as a social norm alongside a health risk educational approach. Future effective intervention is needed to support the abandonment of FGM/C in Kenya.

scholarly journals Improving care for women and girls who have undergone female genital mutilation/cutting: qualitative systematic reviews

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (31) ◽  
pp. 1-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catrin Evans ◽  
Ritah Tweheyo ◽  
Julie McGarry ◽  
Jeanette Eldridge ◽  
Juliet Albert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
Women And Girls ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Experienced Female ◽  
Female Genital

Background In a context of high migration, there are growing numbers of women living in the UK who have experienced female genital mutilation/cutting. Evidence is needed to understand how best to meet their health-care needs and to shape culturally appropriate service delivery. Objectives To undertake two systematic reviews of qualitative evidence to illuminate the experiences, needs, barriers and facilitators around seeking and providing female genital mutilation-/cutting-related health care from the perspectives of (1) women and girls who have experienced female genital mutilation/cutting (review 1) and (2) health professionals (review 2). Review methods The reviews were undertaken separately using a thematic synthesis approach and then combined into an overarching synthesis. Sixteen electronic databases (including grey literature sources) were searched from inception to 31 December 2017 and supplemented by reference list searching. Papers from any Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development country with any date and in any language were included (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development membership was considered a proxy for comparable high-income migrant destination countries). Standardised tools were used for quality appraisal and data extraction. Findings were coded and thematically analysed using NVivo 11 (QSR International, Warrington, UK) software. Confidence in the review findings was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation – Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative Research (GRADE-CERQual) approach. All review steps involved two or more reviewers and a team that included community-based and clinical experts. Results Seventy-eight papers (74 distinct studies) met the inclusion criteria for both reviews: 57 papers in review 1 (n = 18 from the UK), 30 papers in review 2 (n = 5 from the UK) and nine papers common to both. Review 1 comprised 17 descriptive themes synthesised into five analytical themes. Women’s health-care experiences related to female genital mutilation/cutting were shaped by silence and stigma, which hindered care-seeking and access to care, especially for non-pregnant women. Across all countries, women reported emotionally distressing and disempowering care experiences. There was limited awareness of specialist service provision. Good care depended on having a trusting relationship with a culturally sensitive and knowledgeable provider. Review 2 comprised 20 descriptive themes synthesised into six analytical themes. Providers from many settings reported feeling uncomfortable talking about female genital mutilation/cutting, lacking sufficient knowledge and struggling with language barriers. This led to missed opportunities for, and suboptimal management of, female genital mutilation-/cutting-related care. More positive experiences/practices were reported in contexts where there was input from specialists and where there were clear processes to address language barriers and to support timely identification, referral and follow-up. Limitations Most studies had an implicit focus on type III female genital mutilation/cutting and on maternity settings, but many studies combined groups or female genital mutilation/cutting types, making it hard to draw conclusions specific to different communities, conditions or contexts. There were no evaluations of service models, there was no research specifically on girls and there was limited evidence on psychological needs. Conclusions The evidence suggests that care and communication around female genital mutilation/cutting can pose significant challenges for women and health-care providers. Appropriate models of service delivery include language support, continuity models, clear care pathways (including for mental health and non-pregnant women), specialist provision and community engagement. Routinisation of female genital mutilation/cutting discussions within different health-care settings may be an important strategy to ensure timely entry into, and appropriate receipt of, female genital mutilation-/cutting-related care. Staff training is an ongoing need. Future work Future research should evaluate the most-effective models of training and of service delivery. Study registration This study is registered as PROSPERO CRD420150300012015 (review 1) and PROSPERO CRD420150300042015 (review 2). Funding The National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme.

scholarly journals Genital Mutilation of Girls

2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 475-485 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars Almroth ◽  
Susan Elmusharaf
Keyword(s):  
Social Workers ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Limited Effect ◽  
Traditional Practice ◽  
Migration Patterns ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
The World ◽  
Female Genital

Female genital mutilation is a traditional practice affecting girls when their genitals are cut for social, cultural or other non-medical reasons. It is estimated that 3 million girls undergo the procedure every year, mainly in areas in Africa and Asia where it is traditionally practised, but owing to migration patterns, girls living in other parts of the world are also at risk. This article describes the practice of female genital mutilation in a changing world and outlines some aspects in relation to female genital mutilation in girls and women that health staff, teachers, social workers and others should pay attention to. Knowledge regarding complications is important for healthcare, but when complications have been used as arguments against the practice this has had limited effect. Information regarding health risks has to be integrated into culturally sensitive approaches based on human rights and improving the situation for girls and women in order to reach a point where genital mutilation of girls will be generally abandoned.

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