Top

BMC Health Services Research

Published in:

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research article

Interventions for healthcare providers to improve treatment and prevention of female genital mutilation: a systematic review

Authors: Julie Balfour, Jasmine Abdulcadir, Lale Say, Michelle J. Hindin

Published in: BMC Health Services Research | Issue 1/2016

Abstract

Background

Studies on healthcare providers’ awareness, knowledge and attitudes regarding female genital mutilation (FGM) have shown a lack of awareness of the prevalence, diagnosis, and management of FGM. Our objective was to systematically review the literature on interventions improving healthcare providers’ capacities of prevention and treatment of FGM.

Methods

Systematic review of the published and grey literature on interventions aimed at improving healthcare providers’ capacities of prevention and treatment of FGM (1995–2015). Outcomes observed were knowledge and attitudes about FGM, medicalization, and prevention.

Results

Only two studies met our inclusion criteria. They reported on educational interventions aimed at increasing caregivers’ knowledge on FGM. One was conducted with 59 providers, in Mali; the other one with 11 certified nurse-midwives in the United States. The studies report basic statistics regarding the improvement of healthcare professionals’ knowledge, attitude on FGM and medicalization of the practice. Neither conducted multivariable analysis nor evaluated the training effects on the quality of the care offered, the clinical outcomes and the satisfaction of women attended, and prevention.

Conclusion

As health care providers are essential in prevention and treatment of FGM, developing effective interventions is crucial.

Available only for authorised users

WHO. Eliminating female genital mutilation. An interagency statement-OHCHR, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNECA, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNIFEM, WHO. 2008.

UNFPA U, UNICEF, UNIFEM, WHO, FIGO, ICN, MWIA, WCPA, WMA. Global strategy to stop health-care providers from performing female genital mutilation. 2010.

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Female genital mutilation and its management (Green-top Guideline No. 53). 2015.

The royal women’s hospital, Victoria Australia. Deinfibulation clinic. Available from: https://www.thewomens.org.au/patients-visitors/clinics-and-services/gynaecology/female-genital-cutting/. Accessed 30 Sept 2015.

FGM National Clinical group. FGM National clinical group [cited 2015 Sep 30]. Available from: http://www.fgmnationalgroup.org/.

NHS, Health Education England. FGM. E-Learning to improve awareness and understading of FGM [cited 2015 Sep 30]. Available from: http://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/female-genital-mutilation/.

Abdulcadir J, Rodriguez MI, Say L. Research gaps in the care of women with female genital mutilation: an analysis. BJOG. 2015;122(3):294–303.CrossRefPubMed

Dawson A, Homer C, Turkmani S, Black K, Varol N. A systematic review of doctors’ experiences and needs to support the care of women with female genital mutilation. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2015;131(1):35–40.CrossRefPubMed

Kaplan A, Hechavarría S, Bernal M, Bonhoure I. Knowledge, attitudes and practices of female genital mutilation/cutting among health care professionals in The Gambia: a multiethnic study. BMC Public Health. 2013;13:851.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

10.

Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG, PRISMA Group. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. PLoS Med. 2009;6:e1000097.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

11.

Sangaré M, Tandia F, Touré K, Diop N, Traoré F, Diallo H, et al. Study of the effectiveness of training Malian Social and health agents in female genital cutting issues and in educating their clients. Mali: Population Council; 1998.

12.

Jacoby SD, Smith A. Increasing certified nurse-midwives’ confidence in managing the obstetric care of women with female genital mutilation/cutting. J Midwifery Womens Health. 2013;58(4):451–6.CrossRefPubMed

13.

Population Reference Bureau, Mather M, Feldman-Jacobs C. Women and Girls at Risk of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in the United States 2013 [cited 2015 Oct 22]. Available from: http://www.prb.org/Publications/Articles/2015/us-fgmc.aspx.

14.

Reig-Alcaraz M, Siles-González J, Solano-Ruiz C. A mixed-method synthesis of knowledge, experiences and attitudes of health professionals to Female Genital Mutilation. J Adv Nurs. 2015;72(2):245–60.CrossRefPubMed

15.

Dawson A, Turkmani S, Varol N, Nanayakkara S, Sullivan E, Homer C. Midwives’ experiences of caring for women with female genital mutilation: Insights and ways forward for practice in Australia. Women Birth. 2015;28(3):207–14.CrossRefPubMed

16.

UEFGM. United to end female genital mutilation [cited 2015 Oct 13]. Available from: http://www.uefgm.org/Course.aspx?Language=EN.

17.

Anand M, Stanhope T, Occhino J. Female genital mutilation reversal: a general approach. Int Urogynecol J. 2014;25:985–6.CrossRefPubMed

18.

Centre HHaSCI. Female Genital Mutilation Datasets 2015 [cited 2015 Oct 13]. Available from: http://www.hscic.gov.uk/fgm.

19.

Abdulcadir J, Dugerdil A, Boulvain M, Yaron M, Margairaz C, Irion O, et al. Missed opportunities for diagnosis of female genital mutilation. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2014;125(3):256–60.CrossRefPubMed

Title: Interventions for healthcare providers to improve treatment and prevention of female genital mutilation: a systematic review
Authors: Julie Balfour
Jasmine Abdulcadir
Lale Say
Michelle J. Hindin
Publication date: 01-12-2016
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Health Services Research / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6963
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-016-1674-1

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Interventions for healthcare providers to improve treatment and prevention of female genital mutilation: a systematic review

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2016

Hospital pharmacists’ knowledge of and attitudes towards the implementation of the National Essential Medicines System: a questionnaire survey in western China

Influences on uptake of cancer screening in mental health service users: a qualitative study

Evaluating a complex model designed to increase access to high quality primary mental health care for under-served groups: a multi-method study

The accuracy and completeness for receipt of colorectal cancer care using Veterans Health Administration administrative data

The association between medically unexplained physical symptoms and health care use over two years and the influence of depressive and anxiety disorders and personality traits: a longitudinal study

A value proposition for early physical therapist management of neck pain: a retrospective cohort analysis