Female genital mutilation: an evaluation of the knowledge of French general and specialized travel medicine practitioners

Claire Tantet; Camille Aupiais; Mathilde Bourdon; Frédéric Sorge; Adèle Pagès; Dora Levy; Barthélémy Lafon-Desmurs; Albert Faye

doi:10.1093/jtm/tax090

Female genital mutilation: an evaluation of the knowledge of French general and specialized travel medicine practitioners

J Travel Med. 2018 Jan 1;25(1). doi: 10.1093/jtm/tax090.

Authors

Claire Tantet¹, Camille Aupiais^{2

3}, Mathilde Bourdon⁴, Frédéric Sorge¹, Adèle Pagès⁵, Dora Levy¹, Barthélémy Lafon-Desmurs⁶, Albert Faye^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of General Pediatric, Robert Debré University Hospital, Paris, France.
² Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Robert Debré University Hospital, Paris, France.
³ INSERM 1123, ECEVE, University Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.
⁴ Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Cochin Hospital, Paris, France.
⁵ Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Robert Ballanger Hospital, Aulnay, France.
⁶ Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Tenon University Hospital, Paris, France.

PMID: 29394392
DOI: 10.1093/jtm/tax090

Abstract

We investigated the knowledge of female genital mutilation (FGM) among 60 general and 52 specialized travel medicine practitioners. Less than 50% of these practitioners had adequate knowledge of FGM. Only 42.9% declared having encountered FGM. FGM is likely underestimated in health facilities. Medical education and supporting information should be developed to better address and prevent FGM.

Keywords: Female genital mutilation; general practitioner; medical knowledge; travel medicine.

MeSH terms

Circumcision, Female*
Female
France
General Practitioners*
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
Humans
Male
Prospective Studies
Surveys and Questionnaires
Travel Medicine*