“Female genital mutilation… is a deeply rooted traditional practice. However it is a form of violence against girls and women that has serious physical and psychological consequences.”
WHO/UNICEF/UNFPA (1997)
What is FGM?
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) define female genital mutilation as all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
Why Does It Happen?
Tradition is often described as the most important factor in the continuation of the practice (23, 24). It is an ingrained part of certain societies which has been passed through generations and is done without question.
What Can We Do?
FGM is linked to many adverse health outcomes with varying degrees of severity. Nurses and midwives have a duty of care to girls and women who have already undergone FGM, or are perceived to be at risk in the future