A qualitative metasynthesis on the sexual health of women who have undergone female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C) living in western countries

IF 1.8 Q3 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

SSM. Qualitative research in health Pub Date : 2025-01-08 DOI:10.1016/j.ssmqr.2025.100523

Emmanuelle Gareau , Andréanne Dufour , Christina Zarowsky , Olivier Ferlatte

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Rationale

Female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C) or circumcision can have lasting consequences on survivors' sexual health and is an important public health issue in Western countries due to migration. While some quantitative reviews have examined the psychosexual consequences of FGM/C, survivors’ perspectives remain understudied.

Objective

We aim to synthesize existing qualitative data on the experiences of women who have undergone FGM/C and who live in Western countries, focusing on their perspectives regarding sexual health.

Methods

A systematic search was performed in six databases to identify relevant qualitative or mixed-method empirical articles that pertain to sexual health-related matters and provide direct quotations from adult participants who have undergone FGM/C and who live in Western countries. Data was thematically synthesized using QSR's Nvivo14.

Results

We synthesized data from 27 articles and identified three overarching themes related to the control of women's bodies and sexuality: 1) Rigid sexual and gender norms as obstacles to sexual fulfillment, 2) FGM/C as both creator and annihilator of sexual identity and feeling, 3) The hegemony of the taboo related to FGM/C and sexuality leading to the sexual subjugation of women.

Conclusion

This study identified macro (e.g., sexual and gender norms, roles, diktats) and micro-level factors (e.g., FGM/C itself, sexual expectations) influencing the sexual health of women who have undergone FGM/C and who live in Western countries. Future research, health promotion initiatives, and psychosexual care should consider the various dimensions of sexuality when addressing FGM/C survivors’ sexual health.

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关于生活在西方国家接受过切割女性生殖器官的妇女性健康的定性综合分析

残割或切割女性生殖器官（FGM/C）或包皮环切可能对幸存者的性健康产生持久影响，并且由于移徙在西方国家是一个重要的公共卫生问题。虽然一些定量审查审查了切割女性生殖器官的性心理后果，但幸存者的观点仍未得到充分研究。目的：我们的目标是综合关于生活在西方国家接受过女性生殖器切割/切割的妇女的经验的现有定性数据，重点关注她们对性健康的看法。方法在6个数据库中进行系统检索，找出与性健康相关的定性或混合方法的实证文章，并提供生活在西方国家接受过女性生殖器切割/切割的成年参与者的直接引用。使用QSR的Nvivo14对数据进行主题合成。结果我们综合了27篇文章的数据，确定了与女性身体和性行为控制相关的三个主要主题：1)僵化的性和性别规范是性满足的障碍；2)女性生殖器切割/残割既是性别身份和情感的创造者，也是毁灭者；3)与女性生殖器切割/残割和性行为相关的禁忌霸权导致女性的性征服。本研究确定了影响生活在西方国家接受过女性生殖器切割的妇女性健康的宏观因素（如性和性别规范、角色、指令）和微观因素（如女性生殖器切割本身、性期望）。未来的研究、健康促进倡议和性心理保健在处理切割女性生殖器官/残割幸存者的性健康问题时，应考虑到性行为的各个方面。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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