Le Coeur Chemsa, Ondet Margot, Vigoureux Solène, Charlier Caroline, Lemaignen Adrien, Tantet Claire
Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Tours, Tours, France.
Équipe Mobile d'Infectiologie, AP-HP, Hôpital Cochin Port Royal, 27 rue du faubourg Saint-Jacques, Paris, F-75014, France.
BMC Med Educ. 2025 Feb 25;25(1):301. doi: 10.1186/s12909-025-06715-9.
Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is a prevalent traditional practice affecting over 230 million women globally. Gynaecologists and obstetricians (OB/GYN), midwives, and infectious disease (ID) specialists frequently encounter migrant women affected by FGM/C. This study aimed to evaluate these caregivers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to FGM/C.
The questionnaire, designed by an international multidisciplinary team, included 30 questions divided into 5 sections (demographics, practices, knowledge, attitudes and training). It was disseminated via LimeSurvey. All questionnaires completed, were included in the analysis.
From September 2021 to March 2022, we included 1,142 questionnaires, 963 of which were completed and analysed. The respondents were primarily ID specialists (180/963, 19%), OB/GYN (291/963, 30%) and midwives (233/963, 24%). Fifty-four percent of the caregivers (523/963, 54%) had already cared for an FGM/C-affected woman. Sixty-three percent (609/963, 63%) of caregivers discussed FGM/C during consultations. Of these, 47% (284/609) had received initial training, compared to 31% (110/354) among those who never addressed the subject. A higher theoretical knowledge score was observed among providers with more clinical experience and greater self-confidence. An undergraduate education was reported by 41% (394/963) of the caregivers, with midwives showing higher training rates than professionals in other specialties (149/233, 64% p < 0.001).
The main challenge for caregivers is to address the issue of FGM/C to meet women's needs and guide them towards a tailored healthcare pathway. Discussion of the topic was correlated with level of knowledge and self-reported confidence. These results highlight the need for further training, with a special focus on the relational aspects of care.
女性生殖器切割是一种普遍存在的传统习俗，全球超过2.3亿女性受其影响。妇科医生、产科医生、助产士和传染病专家经常接触到受女性生殖器切割影响的移民妇女。本研究旨在评估这些医护人员对女性生殖器切割的知识、态度和做法。
由一个国际多学科团队设计的问卷包括30个问题，分为5个部分（人口统计学、做法、知识、态度和培训）。通过LimeSurvey进行分发。所有完成的问卷都纳入分析。
2021年9月至2022年3月，我们纳入了1142份问卷，其中963份完成并进行了分析。受访者主要是传染病专家（180/963，19%）、妇产科医生（291/963，30%）和助产士（233/963，24%）。54%的医护人员（523/963，54%）已经护理过受女性生殖器切割影响的妇女。63%的医护人员（609/963，63%）在会诊时讨论过女性生殖器切割。其中，47%（284/609）接受过初步培训，而从未提及该主题的人员中这一比例为31%（110/354）。临床经验更丰富、自信心更强的医护人员理论知识得分更高。41%（394/963）的医护人员拥有本科学历，助产士的培训率高于其他专业的专业人员（149/233，64%，p<0.001）。
医护人员面临的主要挑战是解决女性生殖器切割问题，以满足妇女的需求，并引导她们走上量身定制的医疗保健之路。对该主题的讨论与知识水平和自我报告的信心相关。这些结果凸显了进一步培训的必要性，尤其要关注护理中的关系层面。
