Multidisciplinary approach to the management of children with female genital mutilation (FGM) or suspected FGM: service description and case series (2016)
This study is a Descriptive research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics:
Author(s): Sarah M Creighton,Joanna Dear, Claudia de Campos,Louise Williams, and Deborah Hodes
FGM/C Type(s): All
Health area of focus: Gynaecological.
Objective: To describe the first dedicated clinic in the UK for children with suspected or confirmed female genital mutilation (FGM) including referral patterns,clinical findings and subsequent management
Study Population: Patients aged under 18 years referred for clinical assessment or for a second opinion on Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) images
Findings: 38 children were referred of whom 18 (47%) had confirmed FGM; most frequently type 4 (61%). Social care and police referred 78% of cases. According to UK law FGM had been performed illegally in three cases. Anonymous information given to the police led to the referral of six children,none of whom had had FGM. The proportion of children in this study found to have type 4 FGM was a new and important finding. The number of children in this study was small but given that the majority of girls originated from Somalia where type 3 FGM was more common,these findings were unexpected. It was possible this demonstrated a move towards abandonment of the practice as the health risks of type 4 FGM were generally lower than the other types of FGM. The study concludes that mandatory reporting and increased media attention may increase the numbers of referrals of children with suspected FGM. This patient group have complex needs and management in a dedicated multidisciplinary service is essential. Paediatricians and gynaecologists should have the skills to carry out the consultation and detect all types of FGM including type 4 which was the most common type seen in this series. This was the first dedicated FGM service for children in the UK and establishment of similar clinics in high-prevalence areas should be encouraged
Geographical coverage
Region(s):Northern Europe
Country(ies):United Kingdom,United Kingdom