Current service provision for women in the UK who have undergone FGM

Abstract

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is increasingly found in the UK among migrant women and girls. This paper reports on a national survey which assessed current service provision for women who have undergone FGM. The authors conclude that, despite acknowledgment of the health consequences of FGM from professionals, disparate services continue, with seemingly little co-ordination at local or national levels.

Providers' Perceptions of Challenges in Obstetrical Care for Somali Women

“…Hence discordant perspectives on health care expectations and recommended interventions between Somali women and their providers fuel patient-provider misunderstanding and miscommunication, which may have a negative impact on perceived quality of care and reproductive outcomes [ 21 , 28 ]. Moreover, a growing body of evidence from different regions of the world, namely, Norway [ 20 ], Sweden [ 29 ], USA [ 30 ], UK [ 16 , 31 ], and Spain [ 32 ], indicates the persistence of significant gaps in training providers, as well as gaps in general knowledge about caring for FGC-affected populations [ 33 – 35 ], even despite the availability of existing care protocols [ 16 , 31 ]. This prompted an exploration of health care providers' perspectives surrounding reproductive care for Somali women.…”