title: Mental health problems associated with female genital mutilation.
abstract: Aims and method To study the mental health status of 66 genitally mutilated immigrant women originating from Africa (i.e. Somalia, Sudan, Eritrea and Sierra Leone). Scores on standardised questionnaires (Harvard Trauma Questionnaire-30, Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25, COPE-Easy, Lowlands Acculturation Scale) and demographic and psychosocial correlates were analysed. Results A third of the respondents reported scores above the cut-off for affective or anxiety disorders; scores indicative for post-traumatic stress disorder were presented by 17.5% of women. Type of circumcision (infibulation), recollection of the event (a vivid memory), coping style (avoidance, in particular substance misuse) and employment status (lack of income) were significantly associated with psychopathology. Clinical implications A considerable minority group, characterised by infibulated women who have a vivid memory of the circumcision and cope with their symptoms in an avoidant way, reports to experience severe consequences of genital circumcision. In terms of public healthcare, interventions should target these groups as a priority.
authors.affiliation: Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group, Diemen/Oegstgeest, and Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jeroen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Knipscheer
authors.affiliation: Pharos, Centre of Expertise on Health Disparities, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Erick
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vloeberghs
authors.affiliation: Royal Tropical Institute and University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Anke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van der Kwaak
authors.affiliation: Pharos, Centre of Expertise on Health Disparities, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van den Muijsenbergh