Hrvatin I1, Šćepanović D1
1University Medical Center Ljubljana, Gynaecological Clinic, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Background: FGM represents a global concern as 63 million more girls could be subjected to FGM by 2050. It is a deeply embedded cultural tradition that holds a symbolic meaning in numerous communities and is practiced in rural and urban areas. While the exact number of girls and women worldwide who have undergone FGM procedure remains unknown, at least 200 million girls and women in 30 countries have been subjected to the practice. The practice of FGM is highly concentrated in Africa, in the Middle East and in some Asian countries, but can also be found in Europe, Australia and North America, due to displacement caused by civil wars, globalization and migration.
Purpose: The objective of this paper was to review the current literature on female genital mutilation and its consequences, to describe and critically assess the theoretical and methodological approaches to treatment options and to describe and assess different methods that aim to stop or reduce the continuation of FGM.
Methods: We carried out a literature review of articles published in the last 10 years. Included articles studied consequences following FGM, treatment options and different methods to stop or reduce the continuation of FGM. Literature search was conducted on the following databases PubMed, PEDro, Cochrane database, CINAHL and Medline.
Results: Globally the prevalence is declining, as many actions from legal to community based programmes are being proposed. There are many known consequences that can be divided in to two groups: short and long term. Treatment options are well documented in the literature, but published studies are of poor quality. Nevertheless, there are many treatment options and guidelines on how to treat women with FGM. Health care professional should be well informed and sensitive to properly treat women with FGM. They should also inform women about possible consequences and legal aspects. Recent literature review of student's and health care professionals' knowledge and attitudes regarding FGM showed that there is a strong need for education and training, since health care professionals are the key persons in the care for complications and prevention of FGM. Studies show that there is a huge lack of knowledge regarding this subject. Society should be informed about this procedure and should encourage open communication within the society, especially between men and women, since their opinion usually matches, but because the lack of communication in the community the practice continues.
Conclusion(s): This article offers a new and recent prospective of FGM, consequences and treatment options as well as what we can do to stop this practice. Limitations of this review include the risk of bias, because it is not possible to identify and retrieve all studies. Future research should be of better quality and should focus especially on treatment options.
Implications: As health care professionals we should have some knowledge of the subject and especially about how to address and inform possible future patients that have been submitted to the practice.
Keywords: female genital mutilation, consequences, prevention
Funding acknowledgements: This study was unfunded.
Purpose: The objective of this paper was to review the current literature on female genital mutilation and its consequences, to describe and critically assess the theoretical and methodological approaches to treatment options and to describe and assess different methods that aim to stop or reduce the continuation of FGM.
Methods: We carried out a literature review of articles published in the last 10 years. Included articles studied consequences following FGM, treatment options and different methods to stop or reduce the continuation of FGM. Literature search was conducted on the following databases PubMed, PEDro, Cochrane database, CINAHL and Medline.
Results: Globally the prevalence is declining, as many actions from legal to community based programmes are being proposed. There are many known consequences that can be divided in to two groups: short and long term. Treatment options are well documented in the literature, but published studies are of poor quality. Nevertheless, there are many treatment options and guidelines on how to treat women with FGM. Health care professional should be well informed and sensitive to properly treat women with FGM. They should also inform women about possible consequences and legal aspects. Recent literature review of student's and health care professionals' knowledge and attitudes regarding FGM showed that there is a strong need for education and training, since health care professionals are the key persons in the care for complications and prevention of FGM. Studies show that there is a huge lack of knowledge regarding this subject. Society should be informed about this procedure and should encourage open communication within the society, especially between men and women, since their opinion usually matches, but because the lack of communication in the community the practice continues.
Conclusion(s): This article offers a new and recent prospective of FGM, consequences and treatment options as well as what we can do to stop this practice. Limitations of this review include the risk of bias, because it is not possible to identify and retrieve all studies. Future research should be of better quality and should focus especially on treatment options.
Implications: As health care professionals we should have some knowledge of the subject and especially about how to address and inform possible future patients that have been submitted to the practice.
Keywords: female genital mutilation, consequences, prevention
Funding acknowledgements: This study was unfunded.
Topic: Women's & men's pelvic health; Globalisation: health systems, policies & strategies; Professional practice: other
Ethics approval required: No
Institution: None
Ethics committee: None
Reason not required: This was a literature review, therefore ethics approval was not needed.
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
