Authors

1Esther Viñerta Serrano, 1Carmen Sanz Hernández, 1Sofía Martínez Carballo, 1Pilar Isar Malo, 1Belén Sabater Adán, 2Sofía Gotor Colás

Position

¹Matronas de Atención Especializada del Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet (Zaragoza).²Supervisora de matronas del Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet (Zaragoza).

Contact email: evinnerta@salud.aragon.es

Abstract

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a traditional sociocultural, not essentially religious, practice that has been historically widespread over five continents. The highest incidence occurs in Africa, with three million girls and women being at risk for mutilation each year according to WHO estimates. In spite of being less common, such a practice is still present in other countries in Asia, the Middle East, and even in some immigrant communities in Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States, although at a substantially lower rate.
Midwives in Zaragoza, a city with a significant immigrant population, mostly from West African countries where FGM is a common practice, face the challenge of helping to eradicate such a practice. Women having undergone FGM or belonging to a population at risk for FGM are identified upon arrival in delivery room. The issue is approached through a direct work with such women to help them, their partners and their families understand that this is a harmful practice and a human rights violation, and can have a serious impact on women health. Preventing FGM may break a chain that has condemned many of them for life.

Keywords:

Female genital mutilation; Child Protection; gender violence; Midwives

Versión en Español

Título:

Abordaje y prevención de la mutilación genital femenina desde el servicio de paritorio

Bibliography