A systematic review of doctors' experiences and needs to support the care of women with female genital mutilation

Background: Female genital mutilation (FGM) involves partial or complete removal of the external female genitalia or other injury for non-therapeutic reasons. Little is known about the knowledge and skills of doctors who care for affected women and their practice in relation to FGM. Objectives: To examine the FGM experiences and educational needs of doctors. Search strategy: A structured search of five bibliographic databases was undertaken to identify peer-reviewed research literature published in English between 2004 and 2014 using the keywords "female genital mutilation," "medical," "doctors," "education," and "training." Selection criteria: Observational, quasi-experimental, and non-experimental descriptive studies were suitable for inclusion. Data collection and analysis: A narrative synthesis of the study findings was undertaken and themes were identified. Main results: Ten papers were included in the review, three of which were from low-income countries. The analysis identified three themes: knowledge and attitudes, FGM-related medical practices, and education and training. Conclusions: There is a need for improved education and training to build knowledge and skills, and to change attitudes conceming the medicalization of FGM and reinfibulation. (C) 2015 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.