Swedish healthcare for women subjected to Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) (2021)
This study is a Descriptive research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics:
Author(s): Sharareh A
FGM/C Type(s): All
Health area of focus: Description and assessment of Swedish healthcare for women subjected to FGM/.
Objective: This study sought to describe and assess Swedish healthcare for women subjected to FGM/C.This aim encompasses three research foci: (1) to inventory Swedish regional healthcare
guidelines and policies for care for women who have undergone FGM/C,(2) to map healthcare
consumption among women who have undergone FGM/C,and (3) to map the type of care measures and
treatment they have been offered in the Swedish healthcare system. A questionnaire was sent to
healthcare regional managers and a database study was conducted.
Study Population: Sweden has a total of 21 healthcare regions (counties). All coordinators and managers in these counties participated in this study. Furthermore,the healthcare regions’ webpages were also reviewed to look for policies,guidelines,or written routines.
Findings: The inventory of the healthcare regions’ guidelines shows that five of 21 had no guidelines. The number of women who have been subjected to FGM/C and sought care has increased steadily between 2012 and 2018. Women who have been subjected to FGM/C seek care mostly in connection with pregnancy and childbirth.Conclusions: The type of care that should be offered to women who have been subjected to FGM/C vary
depending on individual needs. Care may include surgical procedures in the form of defibulation,clitoral
reconstruction,or removal of cysts,as well as psychosexual care. Existing treatment options in surgical
care,together with psychosexual treatment,are the care measures that seem to be helpful for some
women who have undergone FGM/C,but not for all. Communication and treatment are of great
importance in order to be able to offer care to women who have undergone FGM/C.
Geographical coverage
Region(s):Northern Europe
Country(ies):Sweden