Health consequences of female genital mutilation/cutting in the Gambia, evidence into action

Background: Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) is a harmful traditional practice with severe health complications, deeply rooted in many Sub-Saharan African countries. In The Gambia, the prevalence of FGM/C is 78.3% in women aged between 15 and 49 years. The objective of this study is to perform a first evaluation of the magnitude of the health consequences of FGM/C in The Gambia. Methods: Data were collected on types of FGM/C and health consequences of each type of FGM/C from 871 female patients who consulted for any problem requiring a medical gynaecologic examination and who had undergone FGM/C in The Gambia. Results: The prevalence of patients with different types of FGM/C were: type I, 66.2%; type II, 26.3%; and type III, 7.5%. Complications due to FGM/C were found in 299 of the 871 patients (34.3%). Even type I, the form of FGM/C of least anatomical extent, presented complications in 1 of 5 girls and women examined. Conclusion: This study shows that FGM/C is still practiced in all the six regions of The Gambia, the most common form being type I, followed by type II. All forms of FGM/C, including type I, produce significantly high percentages of complications, especially infections

Manual for the management and prevention of female genital mutilation/cutting for healt professionals the Gaambia

This Manual is the third edition of the Manual on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting for Health Professionals (2010, 2014) developed to facilitate understanding, care and prevention of FGM/C. The ten modules of the Manual have already been integrated in the Academic Curriculum in all health studies in the country (Medicine, Nursing, Public Health and Midwifery) with the support of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the collaboration of the Cuban Medical Mission. In the School of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (SMAHS), FGM/C was integrated into six subjects: anatomy, physiology, psychology, G&O, paediatrics and community medicine

Implementación del repositorio de recursos de aprendizaje e investigación de la universidad virtual de salud Manuel Fajardo

Dada la necesidad de perfeccionar el sitio web UVS-Fajardo para que permitiera la inclusión de un repositorio de Recursos Educativos Abiertos, según criterios específicos de las carreras y especialidades de ciencias médicas que se imparten en la Facultad Manuel Fajardo; se llevó a cabo una investigación con el objetivo de: realizar las adaptaciones al software Drupal en función del repositorio de Recursos Educativos Abiertos; establecer una taxonomía para los contenidos de la Universidad Virtual; e implementar un repositorio de recursos de aprendizaje e investigación. Como resultado se diseñó una taxonomía según tipo de recursos, con 8 taxones y 250 palabras que se añadieron a la clasificación LOM. Como consecuencia de la adaptación del software Drupal como base del repositorio y después de un proceso de preparación, se incrementó la producción a 644 recursos de aprendizaje y 99 de investigación. Se logró la adaptación de plantillas, metadatos y sistemas de recopilación y búsqueda. Se determinó la taxonomía a utilizar en la UVS basado en la teoría de objetos de aprendizaje y contextualizado a las características del centro docente. Se concluye que el repositorio implementado posee una lógica de organización académica que garantiza el depósito y búsquedade forma rápida y eficiente; así como la preservación, reutilización, actualización y evaluación de los materiales digitales producidos.Palabras Clave: repositorios, recursos educativos abiertos, sistema de gestión de contenidos, sistema de gestión de aprendizaje.</p

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of female genital mutilation/cutting among health care professionals in The Gambia : a multiethnic study

Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is a harmful traditional practice with severe consequences for the health and well-being of girls and women. Health care professionals (HCPs) are therefore expected to be aware of how to identify and manage these consequences in order to ensure that those affected by the practice receive quality health care. Moreover, their integration and legitimacy within the communities allow them to play a key role in the prevention of the practice. Nevertheless, the perception of HCPs on FGM/C has been barely explored in African contexts. This study seeks to contribute to this field of knowledge by examining the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding FGM/C among HCPs working in rural settings in The Gambia. A cross-sectional descriptive study was designed through a quantitative methodology, following a multiethnic approach. A pre-tested questionnaire with open and closed-ended questions was created. Forty medical students from the Community-based Medical Programme were trained to administer the questionnaire, face to face, at village health facilities in rural areas of The Gambia. A final sample of 468 HCPs included all nurse cadres and midwives. A significant proportion of Gambian HCPs working in rural areas embraced the continuation of FGM/C (42.5%), intended to subject their own daughters to it (47.2%), and reported having already performed it during their medical practice (7.6%). However, their knowledge, attitudes, and practices were shaped by sex and ethnic identity. Women showed less approval for continuation of FGM/C and higher endorsement of the proposed strategies to prevent it than men. However, it was among ethnic groups that differences were more substantial. HCPs belonging to traditionally practicing groups were more favourable to the perpetuation and medicalisation of FGM/C, suggesting that ethnicity prevails over professional identity. These findings demonstrate an urgent need to build HCP's capacities for FGM/C-related complications, through strategies adapted to their specific characteristics in terms of sex and ethnicity. A culturally and gender sensitive training programme might contribute to social change, promoting the abandonment of FGM/C, avoiding medicalisation, and ensuring accurate management of its health consequence

Manual for the management and prevention of female genital mutilation/cutting for healt professionals the Gaambia

This Manual is the third edition of the Manual on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting for Health Professionals (2010, 2014) developed to facilitate understanding, care and prevention of FGM/C. The ten modules of the Manual have already been integrated in the Academic Curriculum in all health studies in the country (Medicine, Nursing, Public Health and Midwifery) with the support of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the collaboration of the Cuban Medical Mission. In the School of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (SMAHS), FGM/C was integrated into six subjects: anatomy, physiology, psychology, G&O, paediatrics and community medicine

Manual for the management and prevention of female genital mutilation/cutting for healt professionals the Gaambia

This Manual is the third edition of the Manual on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting for Health Professionals (2010, 2014) developed to facilitate understanding, care and prevention of FGM/C. The ten modules of the Manual have already been integrated in the Academic Curriculum in all health studies in the country (Medicine, Nursing, Public Health and Midwifery) with the support of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the collaboration of the Cuban Medical Mission. In the School of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (SMAHS), FGM/C was integrated into six subjects: anatomy, physiology, psychology, G&O, paediatrics and community medicine

Manual for the management and prevention of female genital mutilation / cutting for health professionals Kenya

The present Manual and its 10 modules aim to be part of the Academic Curriculum for the faculties and schools where health students are trained. It is based on the Manual on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting for Health Professionals (2010) published for The Gambia, integrated in all health studies in the country. For example, in Medicine, the FGM/C issue was integrated into six subjects: anatomy, physiology, psychology, G&O, paediatrics and community medicine. The project follows the scientific methodology developed and implemented by The Transnational Observatory of Applied Research to New Strategies for the Prevention of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting under the Wassu-UAB Foundation, with two research centres: one in The Gambia, through the NGO Wassu Gambia Kafo, and one in Spain, through the Interdisciplinary Research Group for the Prevention and Study of Harmful Traditional Practices at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. Qualitative and clinical knowledge is generated through applied research and transferred to key social actors (governmental and non-governmental institutions; health, social and educative services; health professionals and students; community and religious leaders, traditional birth attendants and circumcisers). The outcome is to empower them to be the ones who transfer this knowledge to their communities, promoting preventive actions for the abandonment of the practice

Manual for the management and prevention of female genital mutilation / cutting for health professionals Kenya

The present Manual and its 10 modules aim to be part of the Academic Curriculum for the faculties and schools where health students are trained. It is based on the Manual on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting for Health Professionals (2010) published for The Gambia, integrated in all health studies in the country. For example, in Medicine, the FGM/C issue was integrated into six subjects: anatomy, physiology, psychology, G&O, paediatrics and community medicine. The project follows the scientific methodology developed and implemented by The Transnational Observatory of Applied Research to New Strategies for the Prevention of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting under the Wassu-UAB Foundation, with two research centres: one in The Gambia, through the NGO Wassu Gambia Kafo, and one in Spain, through the Interdisciplinary Research Group for the Prevention and Study of Harmful Traditional Practices at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. Qualitative and clinical knowledge is generated through applied research and transferred to key social actors (governmental and non-governmental institutions; health, social and educative services; health professionals and students; community and religious leaders, traditional birth attendants and circumcisers). The outcome is to empower them to be the ones who transfer this knowledge to their communities, promoting preventive actions for the abandonment of the practice

Manual for the management and prevention of female genital mutilation/cutting for healt professionals the Gaambia

This Manual is the third edition of the Manual on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting for Health Professionals (2010, 2014) developed to facilitate understanding, care and prevention of FGM/C. The ten modules of the Manual have already been integrated in the Academic Curriculum in all health studies in the country (Medicine, Nursing, Public Health and Midwifery) with the support of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the collaboration of the Cuban Medical Mission. In the School of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (SMAHS), FGM/C was integrated into six subjects: anatomy, physiology, psychology, G&O, paediatrics and community medicine