Female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C) is a hybrid term used to express a wide variety of procedures altering or removing the external genitalia of women for non-medical reasons [1,2]. These procedures change normal genital functioning, leaving women at high risk of infections, urinary complications and increased risk of gynaecological, sexual and obstetric complications [3][4][5]. One modelling analysis across six African countries estimated 130,000 lost life years due to obstetric haemorrhage associated with FGM/C [6].

An umbrella review of previously published systematic reviews was conducted to determine the nature and extent of the patient and public involvement (PPI) in COVID-19 health and social care research and identify how PPI has been used to develop public health measures (PHM). In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on PPI in research as it offers alternative perspectives and insight into the needs of healthcare users to improve the quality and relevance of research. In January 2022, nine databases were searched from 2020–2022, and records were filtered to identify peer-reviewed articles published in English. From a total of 1437 unique records, 54 full-text articles were initially evaluated, and six articles met the inclusion criteria. The included studies suggest that PHM should be attuned to communities within a sociocultural context. Based on the evidence included, it is evident that PPI in COVID-19-related research is varied. The existing evidence includes written feedback, conversations with stakeholders, and working groups/task forces. An inconsistent evidence base exists in the application and use of PPI in PHM. Successful mitigation efforts must be community specific while making PPI an integral component of shared decision-making.