Supportive psychotherapy or client education alongside surgical procedures to correct complications of female genital mutilation: A systematic review.
BACKGROUND
Supportive psychotherapy, in individual or group settings, may help improve surgical outcomes for women and girls living with female genital mutilation (FGM).


OBJECTIVE
To assess whether supportive psychotherapy given alongside surgical procedures to correct complications of FGM improves clinical outcomes.


METHODS
We searched major databases including CENTRAL, Medline, African Index Medicus, SCOPUS, PsycINFO, and others. There were no language restrictions. We checked the reference lists of retrieved studies for additional reports of relevant studies.


METHODS
We included studies of girls and women living with any type of FGM who received supportive psychotherapy or client education sessions alongside any surgical procedure to correct health complications from FGM.


METHODS
Two team members independently screened studies for eligibility.


RESULTS
There were no eligible studies identified.


CONCLUSIONS
There is no direct evidence for the benefits or harms of supportive psychotherapy alongside surgical procedures for women and girls living with FGM. Research evidence is urgently needed to guide clinical practice.
42015024639.
Department of Mental health, Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Nigeria.
Olukayode
O
Abayomi
Cochrane Nigeria, Institute of Tropical Diseases Research and Prevention Calabar, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria.
Moriam T
MT
Chibuzor
Experimental and Maternal Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria.
Babasola O
BO
Okusanya
Department of Public Health, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
Ekpereonne
E
Esu
Department of Social Science Education, Faculty of Education, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
Edward
E
Odey
Cochrane Nigeria, Institute of Tropical Diseases Research and Prevention Calabar, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria.|Department of Pediatrics, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
Martin M
MM
Meremikwu
D002921:Cicatrix / Q000601:surgery; D019093:Circumcision, Female / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000592:standards*; D012086:Reoperation / Q000379:methods*; D057545:Social Stigma; D014844:Vulva / Q000601:surgery
Counselling; Education; Female genital mutilation; Supportive psychotherapy