Female Genital Mutilation: Report of a survey on midwives’ views and knowledge (2012)
This study is a Explanatory research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics:
Author(s): Royal College of Midwives
FGM/C Type(s): All
Health area of focus: Obstretric.
Objective: To elicit the views and opinions of practicing midwife members of the RCM on a range of issues relating to Female Genital Mutilation,including their understanding of the law,the practice,knowledge of the communities they work with and their response to FGM,with the purpose of identifying educational,training and support needs relevant to the prevention of FGM and care of women with FGM.
Study Population: practising midwives
Findings: The results suggested that an overwhelming majority of midwives reported a view that FGM should never be carried out,over two–‐thirds (70.5%) of midwives reported an awareness of the UK Law,21.2% of midwives also stated that it was illegal for midwives or doctors in the UK to re-suture following birth. Almost a quarter (24%) reported that their Trust did not collect data on FGM and 47.7% were unaware if their Trust collected data. Few had knowledge of the source of evidence available to them with some reporting that they had to practice without FGM guidelines at times. A large majority of midwives in the survey reported having no knowledge of where to refer women for specialist FGM services and only 15.3% reported having attended a training session. The majority of midwives who responded would like further support from the RCM and reiterated that they wanted more training to be able to care for women with FGM.
Geographical coverage
Region(s):Northern Europe
Country(ies):United Kingdom