title: A systematic review of doctors' experiences and needs to support the care of women with female genital mutilation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Female genital mutilation (FGM) involves partial or complete removal of the external female genitalia or other injury for non-therapeutic reasons. Little is known about the knowledge and skills of doctors who care for affected women and their practice in relation to FGM.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the FGM experiences and educational needs of doctors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A structured search of five bibliographic databases was undertaken to identify peer-reviewed research literature published in English between 2004 and 2014 using the keywords "female genital mutilation," "medical," "doctors," "education," and "training."
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational, quasi-experimental, and non-experimental descriptive studies were suitable for inclusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  A narrative synthesis of the study findings was undertaken and themes were identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten papers were included in the review, three of which were from low-income countries. The analysis identified three themes: knowledge and attitudes, FGM-related medical practices, and education and training.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a need for improved education and training to build knowledge and skills, and to change attitudes concerning the medicalization of FGM and reinfibulation.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Midwifery, Child and Family Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: angela.dawson@uts.edu.au.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.affiliation: Centre for Midwifery, Child and Family Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Caroline S E
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Homer
authors.affiliation: Centre for Midwifery, Child and Family Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Sabera
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Turkmani
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Neonatology, Sydney Medicine School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Black
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Neonatology, Central Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Nesrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Varol
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D019093:Circumcision, Female / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D010820:Physicians / Q000592:standards
keywords: Doctors; Education; Female genital mutilation; Medical practitioners; Systematic review