Female genital cutting: A survey among healthcare professionals in Italy

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the knowledge of female genital cutting (FGC) in a tertiary teaching hospital in Italy. A survey questionnaire on FGC was given to paediatricians, nurses, midwives, gynaecologists and residents in paediatrics and gynaecology in a tertiary teaching hospital in Italy. The results of the survey were then analysed. The results showed that 71.5% (73/102) of healthcare professionals dealt with patients presenting with FGC. Gynaecologists (83%) and paediatric nurses (75%) were the only ones who declared to be aware of Italian law on FGC. In detail, 55% of midwives, 50% of paediatricians, 50% of paediatrician residents and 28.5% of gynaecological residents were aware of this law. The general knowledge of Italian National Guidelines on FGC is even worse: most professionals are not aware of protocols of action. Considering the increasing extension of FGC due to immigration, improvement of care through specialised education of healthcare providers is mandatory.

Epidemiology, Regional Characteristics, Knowledge, and Attitude Toward Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in Southern Iran

“…We also demonstrated that positive family history of FGM/C in grandmother, mother, and sister is significantly associated with higher prevalence of FGM/C. Consistent with previous reports, we found that type I FGM/C was the most common performed procedure in the region [1,13,14,17,20,24]. However, clitoral nicking was even more common.…”

A survey of Australian midwives’ knowledge, experience, and training needs in relation to female genital mutilation

“…The findings of this survey underline the increased need for further training on FGM as it has been suggested by other studies in Australia (17,33). Likewise, other HIC such as the UK (24,27), US (18), Sweden (20) and Italy (34,35) also emphasised the need for specialised skills for healthcare professionals who care for women with FGM during pregnancy and childbirth. Australian midwives expressed the need for more comprehensive and specialised training as part of pre-service and inservice midwifery training (33).…”

“…However, approximately 80% of the study participants had encountered and cared for women with FGM during their practice (24). Similarly, studies in Italy (34,35), Sweden (20), the United States of America (USA) (18) and Spain (36) have also reported poor of health provider knowledge of FGM.…”

The lived experience of female genital cutting (FGC) in Somali-Canadian women’s daily lives

“…These negative experiences and othering may result not only from a lack of training specific to FGC [ 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 ] but also from health care practitioners not knowing what to do when faced with a patient with FGC [ 52 , 53 ]. This suggests a need for training vis-à-vis treatment of reproductive healthcare for women with FGC and a health care system that does not make women with FGC feel abnormal.…”