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Attitudes and Experiences Surrounding Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in the United States: A Scoping Review

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Abstract

To identify research and gaps in literature about FGM/C–related attitudes and experiences among individuals from FGM/C–practicing countries living in the United States, we conducted a scoping review guided by Arksey and O’Malley’s framework. We searched Medline (OVID), Embase (OVID), PubMed, and SCOPUS and conducted a grey literature search for studies assessing attitudes or experiences related to FGM/C with data collected directly from individuals from FGM/C-practicing countries living in the United States. The search yielded 417 studies, and 40 met the inclusion criteria. Findings suggest that women and men from FGM/C-practicing countries living in the United States generally oppose FGM/C, and that women with FGM/C have significant physical and mental health needs and have found US healthcare providers to lack understanding of FGM/C. Future research can improve measurement of FGM/C by taking into account the sociocultural influences on FGM/C–related attitudes and experiences.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported in part by an appointment to the Research Participation Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education through an interagency agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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All authors of this manuscript affirm they are responsible for the reported research, and each participated in the concept and design of the manuscript. Ghenet Besera and Howard Goldberg contributed to the article screening, selection, and data extraction. All authors were involved in the drafting and revising of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Margaret Christine Snead.

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Besera, G., Goldberg, H., Okoroh, E.M. et al. Attitudes and Experiences Surrounding Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in the United States: A Scoping Review. J Immigrant Minority Health 25, 449–482 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-022-01437-2

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