Canadian medical student knowledge and attitudes toward female genital mutilation.

Autor: Market M; Department of Family Medicine, Western University, London, Canada., Grondin M; Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada., Boucher DM; Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada., Malic C; Department of Plastic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Education for health (Abingdon, England) [Educ Health (Abingdon)] 2023 Jan-Apr; Vol. 36 (1), pp. 38-46.
DOI: 10.4103/efh.efh_18_22
Abstrakt: Background: Despite female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) practices being an illegal form of gender-based violence in Canada, this practice impacts many Canadians. Lack of education and training among Canadian health-care providers has resulted in systematic barriers to care. Awareness and FGM/C-related education among Canadian health-care providers must be urgently assessed.
Methods: Canadian medical students were recruited to complete an anonymous survey via E-mails distributed through their schools' student organization between January and March 2021. We evaluated student understanding of FGM/C, attitudes toward medicalization and legislation, and prior clinical experience using multiple choice, Likert scale, and open-response questions.
Results: Respondents (n = 135) performed poorly on knowledge assessment questions (mean percent correct <50%). Only 10.4% of respondents indicated knowing how to involve appropriate authorities when necessary, and most never evaluate FGM/C in patient history (86.7%) or clinical examination (57.1%). Subgroup analysis revealed that prior education significantly improved knowledge scores and influenced students' behaviors and attitudes. About 92.2% of respondents supported the integration of FGM/C curricula in undergraduate medical education.
Discussion: This study reveals that Canadian medical students have a poor understanding of FGM/C and are not prepared to identify affected patients or intervene when necessary. These results provide rationale for the implementation of FGM/C-learning modules in undergraduate medicine.
Competing Interests: None
Databáze: MEDLINE
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