Attitudes towards female genital mutilation: an integrative review.
BACKGROUND
Immigration and globalization processes have contributed to the international dissemination of practices such as female genital mutilation. Between 100 and 400 million girls and women have been genitally mutilated, and every year 3 million girls are at risk of being subjected to female genital mutilation.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to describe the attitudes towards the practice of female genital mutilation in relation to different health systems and the factors that favour its discontinuation.


METHODS
An integrative review was performed of publications from the period 2006 to 2013 included in the MedLine, PubMed, LILACS, SciELO, CINAHL and CUIDEN databases.


RESULTS
We selected 16 studies focusing on diverse contexts that assessed the attitudes of both men and women regarding the perpetuation of this practice. Ten corresponded to studies conducted in countries of residence. Several areas of investigation were explored (factors contributing to the continuation of female genital mutilation, factors contributing to its discontinuation, feelings about the health system).


CONCLUSIONS
It is possible that the relevant studies may not have been included given the limitations of the literature review and the invisibility of the phenomenon studied.


CONCLUSIONS
This review demonstrates the strong social pressure to which women are subjected as regards the practice of female genital mutilation. However, many other factors can contribute to eroding beliefs and arguments in favour of this practice, such as the globalization, culture and social environment of countries in the West.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses occupy an essential position in detecting and combating these practices.
Department of Nursing, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
M
M
Reig Alcaraz
J
J
Siles González
C
C
Solano Ruiz
D001294:Attitude to Health; D019093:Circumcision, Female / Q000523:psychology*; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
Attitude; Culture; Delivery of Healthcare; Emigration and Immigration; Female Circumcision; Globalization; Transcultural Nursing