title: Interventions for healthcare providers to improve treatment and prevention of female genital mutilation: a systematic review.
abstract: Studies on healthcare providers' awareness, knowledge and attitudes regarding female genital mutilation (FGM) have shown a lack of awareness of the prevalence, diagnosis, and management of FGM. Our objective was to systematically review the literature on interventions improving healthcare providers' capacities of prevention and treatment of FGM.
  
  
  
  Systematic review of the published and grey literature on interventions aimed at improving healthcare providers' capacities of prevention and treatment of FGM (1995-2015). Outcomes observed were knowledge and attitudes about FGM, medicalization, and prevention.
  
  
  
  Only two studies met our inclusion criteria. They reported on educational interventions aimed at increasing caregivers' knowledge on FGM. One was conducted with 59 providers, in Mali; the other one with 11 certified nurse-midwives in the United States. The studies report basic statistics regarding the improvement of healthcare professionals' knowledge, attitude on FGM and medicalization of the practice. Neither conducted multivariable analysis nor evaluated the training effects on the quality of the care offered, the clinical outcomes and the satisfaction of women attended, and prevention.
  
  
  
  As health care providers are essential in prevention and treatment of FGM, developing effective interventions is crucial.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, 20, Avenue Appia, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Balfour
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, 20, Avenue Appia, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland. jasmine.abdulcadir@hcuge.ch.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Geneva University Hospitals, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 30 Bld de la Cluse, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland. jasmine.abdulcadir@hcuge.ch.
authors.forename: Jasmine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abdulcadir
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, 20, Avenue Appia, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Lale
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Say
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, 20, Avenue Appia, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Michelle J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hindin
mesh_terms: D019093:Circumcision, Female / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004496:Education, Continuing; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008302:Mali; D009721:Nurse Midwives / Q000193:education*; D015995:Prevalence; D014481:United States
keywords: Caregivers; Female genital cutting; Female genital mutilation; Female genital mutilation/cutting; Healthcare professionals; Prevention