The need for and acceptability of a curriculum to train nursing and medical students in the sexual healthcare of clients with female genital mutilation/cutting in Tanzania

Dorkasi L Mwakawanga; Agnes F Massae; Nidhi Kohli; Gift Gadiel Lukumay; Corissa T Rohloff; Stella Emmanuel Mushy; Lucy R Mgopa; Dickson Ally Mkoka; Ever Mkonyi; Maria Trent; Michael W Ross; B R Simon Rosser; Jennifer Connor

doi:10.1186/s12905-024-03034-x

The need for and acceptability of a curriculum to train nursing and medical students in the sexual healthcare of clients with female genital mutilation/cutting in Tanzania

BMC Womens Health. 2024 Mar 26;24(1):198. doi: 10.1186/s12905-024-03034-x.

Affiliations

¹ Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, United Nations Rd, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
² University of Minnesota, #300, 1300 S. 2nd St., Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA.
³ Johns Hopkins University, 200 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.
⁴ University of Minnesota, #300, 1300 S. 2nd St., Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA. rosser@umn.edu.

Abstract

Background: Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is tied to one of the most conservative cultures in the Mediterranean and Sub-Saharan Africa. More than 200 million girls and women in 30 African, Asian and the middle Eastern countries have undergone FGM/C. However, healthcare professionals are not adequately trained to prevent and manage FGM/C-related complications including sexual health problems. This study aimed to assess the need and acceptability of a curriculum to train nursing and medical students in the sexual healthcare of clients with FGM/C in Tanzania.

Methods: We used a descriptive and cross sectional study design to collect and analyse information from 271 medical and 137 nursing students in Tanzania. A Qualtrics online survey was used to obtain quantitative data on training interest, previous training received, and the curriculum delivery method. Open-ended questions were used to explore their insights on significance to obtain the necessary competencies to treat and prevent FGM/C. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative data while qualitative data were analyzed using a thematic approach.

Results: Almost half of the participants reported they had little to no training in sexual healthcare for women with FGM/C (47%). In all, 82.4% reported the training to be acceptable. Following thematic analysis of open-ended questions, participants expressed a desire to improve their competencies to meet the current and future sexual and psychological health needs of women and girls who have undergone FGM/C.

Conclusion: It is a necessary and acceptable to develop a curriculum to train healthcare students to diagnose, treat and prevent sexual health complications related to FGM/C. In our study, designing a culturally sensitive curriculum and its delivery method, that includes practical sessions with simulated patients, was considered the most beneficial and favorable.

Keywords: Curriculum; Female genital cutting; Healthcare professionals; Mutilation; Sexual health; Tanzania.

MeSH terms

Circumcision, Female* / psychology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Curriculum
Delivery of Health Care
Female
Humans
Students, Medical*
Tanzania