Abstract
Female Genital Manipulation (FGM) is recognized as a significant worldwide human rights concern that is based on outdated societal, religious and ethnic beliefs. FGM, however, is not a foreign issue. FGM is also an unfortunate reality in the United States. The World Health Organization defines FGM as any ceremonial or nonmedical alteration of the female genitals. In the United States, while it is a felony to perform FGM on a girl younger than 18 years of age, there is currently no federal legal penalty for people who allow their daughters to return to their home country to have FGC performed. Additionally, twenty-two states in the U.S. do not have any legislation against FGM, making this a tremendous forensic and public health concern in the US. The author completed a convenience survey of 100 Registered Nurses in the United States. This presentation will review the historical background of FGM, discuss the clinical framework to identify and advocate for FGM patients, and discuss nursing roles to positively impact state and federal policy changes. The author’s intention is increased clinical awareness, progress in Forensic Nurse discussions and support of public policy change to improve all FGM patient outcomes regarding this women’s health issue.
Sigma Membership
Mu Epsilon
Lead Author Affiliation
North Scottsdale Health, PLLC, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
Type
Presentation-Oral Standard Event
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Expert Opinion (nationally/internationally recognized)
Research Approach
Translational Research/Evidence-based Practice
Keywords:
Forensic Nursing, Global Health, Women's Health, Violence Against Women
Recommended Citation
Turkington, Kirsten O., "Female genital mutilation: What nurses need to know" (2020). General Submissions: Presenations (Oral and Poster). 40.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/gen_sub_presentations/2019/presentations/40
Conference Name
Annual Conference
Conference Host
International Association of Forensic Nurses
Conference Location
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Conference Year
2019
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.
All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Self-submission
Female genital mutilation: What nurses need to know
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Female Genital Manipulation (FGM) is recognized as a significant worldwide human rights concern that is based on outdated societal, religious and ethnic beliefs. FGM, however, is not a foreign issue. FGM is also an unfortunate reality in the United States. The World Health Organization defines FGM as any ceremonial or nonmedical alteration of the female genitals. In the United States, while it is a felony to perform FGM on a girl younger than 18 years of age, there is currently no federal legal penalty for people who allow their daughters to return to their home country to have FGC performed. Additionally, twenty-two states in the U.S. do not have any legislation against FGM, making this a tremendous forensic and public health concern in the US. The author completed a convenience survey of 100 Registered Nurses in the United States. This presentation will review the historical background of FGM, discuss the clinical framework to identify and advocate for FGM patients, and discuss nursing roles to positively impact state and federal policy changes. The author’s intention is increased clinical awareness, progress in Forensic Nurse discussions and support of public policy change to improve all FGM patient outcomes regarding this women’s health issue.