FGM/C Awareness

Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting

In this webinar we will discuss the issue of female genital mutilation/cutting in Australia. We will review the role of health care professionals in supporting women and girls, your legal responsibilities, and how communication and trust can be fostered by the actions and words of the individual health professional.
CPD HOURS: 0.5
  Registration Year 2024-2025

Course Content

FGM/C stands for female genital mutilation/cutting. FGM/C are procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons (WHO 2017). This practice may be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. It is not associated with any medical benefit for women and girls.

Recent statistics from the World Health Organisation show that “More than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM) in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where FGM is practiced. FGM is mostly carried out on young girls between infancy and age 15. FGM is a violation of the human rights of girls and women. Treatment of the health complications of FGM is estimated to cost health systems US$ 1.4 billion per year, a number expected to rise unless urgent action is taken towards its abandonment.”

The report from the World Health Organisation also identified the motivations behind the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) differ across regions and change over time, influenced by a combination of sociocultural factors within families and communities.

In areas where FGM is a social convention or norm, individuals may feel significant social pressure to conform to established practices. The desire for social acceptance and the fear of community rejection are powerful factors that drive the perpetuation of this tradition. FGM is often viewed as an integral aspect of raising a girl, seen as a means to prepare her for adulthood and marriage. This includes the notion of controlling her sexuality to uphold premarital virginity and marital fidelity.

Although some people associate FGM with religious support, it's important to note that no religious scriptures prescribe the practice. Religious leaders hold diverse perspectives on FGM, with some actively contributing to efforts for its abandonment.

In this webinar we will discuss the issue of female genital mutilation/cutting in Australia. We will review the role of health care professionals in supporting women and girls, your legal responsibilities, and how communication and trust can be fostered by the actions and words of the individual health professional.

Learning Outcomes

In this session, you will:
  • Gain an understanding of what female genital mutilation/cutting is
  • Explore the reason that the practice exists and why it remains an issue in some Australian communities
  • The short and long term health impacts of the practice
  • What nurses and midwives can do to support and empower their patients

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