Some 80 per cent of GPs who responded to a survey on female genital mutilation (FGM) did not have knowledge of the practice or associated issues.
The survey by migrant women’s network Akidwa was supported by the HSE and was due to be released this Wednesday on International Day of Zero Tolerance to FGM.
Lack of knowledge on FGM related to its prevalence in Ireland, the law prohibiting it and safeguarding procedures for protecting girls at risk of FGM, said Akidwa.
More than 3,000 migrant women and girls in Ireland are believed to have undergone FGM at some point in their lives. In 2012, the Department of Health stated that some immigrant families were “coming under pressure” to have FGM inflicted on daughters in Ireland or upon visits to parental countries. The response rate to the questionnaire was low, with just 64 responses (two emails; 62 postal) to 600 emailed and 218 posted questionnaires.
Twelve out of the 64 GPs had met FGM patients in their clinics. However, all GPs indicated that they don’t have referral pathways for providing support and information to clients affected by FGM and most (65 per cent) were not able to identify symptoms associated with having undergone the procedure.
Most GPs expressed an interest in receiving a referral list and in being upskilled on FGM.
“As the first point of contact in accessing healthcare services in Ireland, GPs must have a good understanding of issues related to the health of the immigrant population, as suggested by the HSE National Intercultural Health Strategy 2007-2012,” said the organisation.