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Health care needs and attitudes among immigrant women living with female genital cutting in Philadelphia, PA
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Health care needs and attitudes among immigrant women living with female genital cutting in Philadelphia, PA

Noella Sama
Master of Public Health (M.P.H.), Drexel University
2018
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00010423
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Sama_Noella_CBMP_paper_2018298.65 kBDownloadView
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Abstract

Female genital cutting Female genital mutilation Philadelphia International Women's Project
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), sometimes also referred to as Female Genital Cutting (FGC) involves partial or total removal of external female genitalia for non-medical purposes. This practice is a cultural rite of passage on women and young girls and the procedures can be classified under four categories ranging from partial or total removal of the clitoris to narrowing of the virginal opening, pricking and piercing of the genital area. According to estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 3 million girls are at risk every year and there are over 200 million girls who have already been cut in about 30 countries, with high prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa. As the immigrant population in Philadelphia continues to rise, the Philadelphia International Women's Project (PIWP) was developed to break barriers to care experienced by women who have been affected by Female Genital Cutting (FGC) and prevent future cutting to those at risk, while also increasing community capacity. PIWP has four major goals: community engagement, peer-to-peer support, clinical services, and provider education. To develop programs that best serve women in Philadelphia who have been impacted by FGM/C, a needs assessment was conducted to develop a better understanding of attitude towards FGC, effects of FGC on daily living, attitudes towards seeking health care, barriers and facilitators to accessing health care and unmet health care needs. The aim of the needs assessment is to identify the health priorities of women living with female genital cutting in the Philadelphia region and to develop a set of community-informed practices that will guide PIWP program implementation.

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