Challenges in addressing female genital mutilation in primary health care
Järvinen, Johanna (2022)
2022
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2022060314994
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2022060314994
Tiivistelmä
The goal of this study was to examine the perspectives and experiences of health care professionals in primary health care concerning discussions on female genital mutilation (FGM) with female patients. The primary objective was to identify the preventing and facilitating factors in raising and discussing the culturally sensitive topic in their work. The secondary objective was to provide recommendations for health care providers based on the identified development needs.
FGM is an increasingly important global public health concern. Currently 200 million girls and women alive have been subjected to some form of FGM and 4 million girls are at risk of FGM every year. Regardless of the decline in FGM practice, the number of girls undergoing the procedure will increase due to population growth, medicalized FGM as well as the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Global efforts are needed to prevent FGM, due to the growing migration from countries with high prevalence of FGM to areas where the tradition is not commonly known or practiced. There are estimations of around 10,000 women who have undergone FGM living in Finland and up to 3,000 girls being in the risk of undergoing FGM. Previous research shows low awareness of FGM among health care professionals as well as various barriers in raising the topic in health care settings.
A qualitative approach was used in this study. The data was collected through an anonymous online questionnaire with open-ended questions and analysed using inductive content analysis method. The data consisted of 14 responses by registered nurses and public health nurses in primary health care setting. Participants were recruited through a contact person at the research setting. Primary health care as the research setting was chosen due to higher levels of usage of services among the population with foreign background as well as being the service with a lower threshold for diverse health issues.
The results of the study showed a lack of knowledge and experience on FGM among nurses in primary health care. The lack of knowledge was linked to the confidence in addressing FGM and related health issues with women. Based on the results, there is a need for further training for nurses working in primary health care. The results demonstrated similar outcomes as previous research. Significant knowledge gaps, lack of common guidelines, cultural barriers to raise the topic and a need for further education were reported.
This thesis was a small-scale study, which may however inspire larger studies on health care professionals’ competencies on FGM and abilities to bring up culturally sensitive topics. Examining the perspectives of women who have undergone FGM and their experiences on interactions and discussions with health care professionals in Finland concerning FGM and related health issues would also be valuable.
FGM is an increasingly important global public health concern. Currently 200 million girls and women alive have been subjected to some form of FGM and 4 million girls are at risk of FGM every year. Regardless of the decline in FGM practice, the number of girls undergoing the procedure will increase due to population growth, medicalized FGM as well as the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Global efforts are needed to prevent FGM, due to the growing migration from countries with high prevalence of FGM to areas where the tradition is not commonly known or practiced. There are estimations of around 10,000 women who have undergone FGM living in Finland and up to 3,000 girls being in the risk of undergoing FGM. Previous research shows low awareness of FGM among health care professionals as well as various barriers in raising the topic in health care settings.
A qualitative approach was used in this study. The data was collected through an anonymous online questionnaire with open-ended questions and analysed using inductive content analysis method. The data consisted of 14 responses by registered nurses and public health nurses in primary health care setting. Participants were recruited through a contact person at the research setting. Primary health care as the research setting was chosen due to higher levels of usage of services among the population with foreign background as well as being the service with a lower threshold for diverse health issues.
The results of the study showed a lack of knowledge and experience on FGM among nurses in primary health care. The lack of knowledge was linked to the confidence in addressing FGM and related health issues with women. Based on the results, there is a need for further training for nurses working in primary health care. The results demonstrated similar outcomes as previous research. Significant knowledge gaps, lack of common guidelines, cultural barriers to raise the topic and a need for further education were reported.
This thesis was a small-scale study, which may however inspire larger studies on health care professionals’ competencies on FGM and abilities to bring up culturally sensitive topics. Examining the perspectives of women who have undergone FGM and their experiences on interactions and discussions with health care professionals in Finland concerning FGM and related health issues would also be valuable.