title: Female genital mutilation in children presenting to Australian paediatricians.
abstract: The WHO reports that female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is an ancient cultural practice prevalent in many countries. FGM/C has been reported among women resident in Australia. Our paper provides the first description of FGM/C in Australian children.
  
  
  
  Cross-sectional survey conducted in April-June 2014.
  
  
  
  Paediatricians and other child health specialists recruited through the Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit were asked to report children aged <18 years with FGM/C seen in the last 5 years, and to provide data for demographics, FGM/C type, complications and referral for each case.
  
  
  
  Of 1311 eligible paediatricians/child health specialists, 1003 (76.5%) responded.
  
  
  
  Twenty-three (2.3%) respondents had seen 59 children with FGM/C and provided detailed data for 31. Most (89.7%) were identified during refugee screening and were born in Africa. Three (10.3%) were born in Australia: two had FGM/C in Australia and one in Indonesia. All parents were born overseas, mainly Africa (98.1%). Ten children had WHO FGM/C type I, five type II, five type III and six type IV. Complications in eight children included recurrent genitourinary infections, menstrual, sexual, fertility and psychological problems. Nineteen children (82.6%) were referred to obstetrics/gynaecology: 16 (69.9%) to social work and 13 (56.5%) to child protection.
  
  
  
  This study confirms that FGM/C is seen in paediatric clinical practice within Australia. Paediatricians need cultural awareness, education and resources to help them identify children with FGM/C and/or at risk of FGM/C, to enable appropriate referral and counselling of children, families and communities to assist in the prevention of this practice.
authors.affiliation: Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.|Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zurynski
authors.affiliation: Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.|Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3704-8011
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Phu
authors.affiliation: Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.|Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Premala
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sureshkumar
authors.affiliation: Refugee Health Service, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.|School of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cherian
authors.affiliation: Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.|Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deverell
authors.affiliation: Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.|Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Elliott
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000592:standards; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019093:Circumcision, Female / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000193:education / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000379:methods; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D065246:Culturally Competent Care / Q000592:standards; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013664:Teaching Materials
keywords: Female Genital Mutilation; General Paediatrics