Factors associated with health care provider attitudes, and confidence for the care of women and girls affected by female genital mutilation/cutting
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Authors
Marea, Christina X.
Warren, ,Nicole
Glass, Nancy
Johnson-Agbakwu, Crista
Perrin, Nancy
Issue Date
2021-05
Type
Article
Language
en_US
Keywords
Female Genital Cutting , Female Genital Mutilation , Female Circumcision , Health Care Provider , Attitudes , Confidence
Alternative Title
Abstract
Background: Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is a cultural practice that includes procedures that intentionally alter or cause harm to female genital organs for nonmedical reasons, affecting ∼200 million women and girls globally. Health care providers in the United States often lack confidence to provide appropriate FGM/C-related care, and experience attitudes that may negatively impact quality of care for FGM/C.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of health care providers to explore the associations between health care provider characteristics, awareness of health complications of FGM/C, attitudes, and confidence for FGM/C care.
Results: Factors associated with more Confidence for Clinical FGM/C Care include awareness of health complications, ever cared for a woman with FGM/C, being a woman or person of color, and more than 5 years of clinical practice. Increased Confidence in Communication Skills for FGM/C Care was associated with awareness of more health complications for FGM/C. Women endorsed significantly less Negative Attitudes toward FGM/C compared with men; no other factors were associated with health care provider attitudes.
Conclusion: Future research should further investigate factors associated with health care provider attitudes toward FGM/C and those affected by the practice to promote quality care. Health providers require adequate training for clinical FGM/C care and in the communication skills that promote patient/provider communication cross-culturally.
Description
Citation
Marea, C. X., Warren, N., Glass, N., Johnson-Agbakwu, C., & Perrin, N. (2021). Factors Associated with Health Care Provider Attitudes, and Confidence for the Care of Women and Girls Affected by Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting. Health equity, 5(1), 329–337. https://doi.org/10.1089/heq.2020.0130
Publisher
Health Equity