Department of Women's and Children's Health, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska University Hospital and Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; and Corresponding author. Email:
Department of Women's and Children's Health, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska University Hospital and Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
J Prim Health Care. 2021 Dec;13(4):334-339. doi: 10.1071/HC21118.
INTRODUCTION As the immigrant communities in high-income countries become larger and increasingly multicultural and ethnically diverse, health professionals are more likely to see girls and women with, or at risk of, female genital mutilation or 'cutting' (FGM/C) in clinical practice. To provide good care and support, other health-care professionals may learn from the experiences of midwifes caring for infibulated women during labour in Sweden. AIM To describe Swedish midwives' experiences in caring for infibulated women during labour. METHODS This is a qualitative study. Semi-structured interviews with six midwives working at obstetric clinics in Sweden used open-ended questions. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed by using thematic analysis. RESULTS Two main themes were identified: experienced challenges during the process of labour; and midwives' emotional experiences. Midwives experienced challenges during their professional encounters with infibulated women and a variety of emotions were evoked when caring for these women during labour. Lack of general guidelines and standardised routines complicated their work. DISCUSSION The midwives' experiences were negatively affected by organisational factors and being emotionally affected by the fact that these women were not perceived to be given appropriate care because of their FGM/C. Policymakers in Sweden should consider implementing national guidelines for how to care for women exposed to FGM/C, ideally at an early stage in their reproductive life.
简介 随着高收入国家的移民社区变得越来越大，越来越多的文化和族裔多样化，医疗保健专业人员在临床实践中更有可能看到患有或有女性生殖器切割（FGM/C）风险的女孩和妇女。为了提供良好的护理和支持，其他医疗保健专业人员可以借鉴瑞典助产士在分娩期间照顾缝合妇女的经验。 目的 描述瑞典助产士在分娩期间照顾缝合妇女的经验。 方法 这是一项定性研究。在瑞典的妇产科诊所工作的六名助产士进行了半结构化访谈，使用开放式问题。采访进行了录音、逐字转录，并通过主题分析进行了分析。 结果 确定了两个主要主题：分娩过程中遇到的挑战；以及助产士的情感体验。助产士在与缝合妇女的专业接触中遇到了挑战，在分娩期间照顾这些妇女时，她们产生了各种情绪。缺乏一般准则和标准化程序使他们的工作变得复杂。 讨论 组织因素对助产士的经验产生了负面影响，并且由于这些妇女因 FGM/C 而未被认为得到适当护理而感到情绪激动。瑞典的政策制定者应考虑实施如何照顾遭受 FGM/C 影响的妇女的国家准则，理想情况下在她们生殖生命的早期阶段。
