title: Female genital mutilation: Survey of paediatricians' knowledge, attitudes and practice.
abstract: The study objective was to determine paediatricians' experience with female genital mutilation (FGM) in Australian children and adolescents. A cross-sectional, pilot-tested national survey of paediatricians practising in Australia and contributing to the Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit was conducted. Clinicians' knowledge, attitudes and clinical experience with FGM, awareness of clinical guidelines and education/training needs were recorded. Of 1311 paediatricians surveyed, 497 (38%) responded. Fifty-seven percent were aged 50 years or more, and 51.3% were males. Over half believed that FGM was performed in children in Australia and most were aware of its complications, but few asked about or examined for FGM. Fifty (10.3%) had seen at least one case of FGM in girls aged <18 years during their clinical career, including 16 (3.3%) in the past 5 years. Most were aware that FGM is illegal in Australia (93.9%), agreed all types of FGM were harmful (97.4%) and agreed that FGM violated human rights (98.2%). Most (87.6%) perceived FGM as a traditional cultural practice, although 11.6% thought it was required by religion. The majority (81.8%) knew notification of FGM to child protection authorities was mandatory. Over half (62.0%) were aware of the WHO Statement on FGM, but only 22.0% knew the WHO classification of FGM. These novel data indicate a minority of paediatricians in Australia have clinical experience with or education about FGM. Educational programs, best-practice clinical guidelines and policies are required to address knowledge gaps and help paediatricians identify, manage and prevent FGM in children.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit, Sydney Children's Hospitals Network (Westmead), Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: premala.sureshkumar@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Premala
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sureshkumar
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit, Sydney Children's Hospitals Network (Westmead), Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: yvonne.zurynski@health.nsw.gov.au.
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zurynski
authors.affiliation: Division of Paediatrics and Child Health, Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Sydney, Australia; Gold Coast University Hospital, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: susan.moloney@health.qld.gov.au.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moloney
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Paediatrics, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia; University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: shanti.raman@sswahs.nsw.gov.au.
authors.forename: Shanti
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raman
authors.affiliation: Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit, Sydney Children's Hospitals Network (Westmead), Sydney, Australia; Discipline of Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Neonatology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: nesrin.varol@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Nesrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Varol
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit, Sydney Children's Hospitals Network (Westmead), Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: elizabeth.elliott@health.nsw.gov.au.
authors.forename: Elizabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Elliott
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D001364:Awareness; D019093:Circumcision, Female / Q000523:psychology*; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000072143:Pediatricians / Q000523:psychology*; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors
keywords: Female genital mutilation; Knowledge and attitudes; Medical education; Paediatric practice