Evaluation report
Diagnoses and Procedures of Inpatients with Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in Swiss University Hospitals: A Cross-Sectional Study
Horowicz M, Cottler-Casanova S, Abdulcadir J ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined hospital records from Swiss university hospitals to identify health conditions and medical procedures for inpatients diagnosed with female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) between 2016 and 2018. The researchers found 207 cases coded with FGM/C, mostly admitted to gynaecology and obstetrics departments. The study concludes that coding capacity for FGM/C complications is low in these hospitals, meaning some health conditions related to FGM/C may not be properly documented or diagnosed. Pregnancy and delivery are identified as key moments when healthcare providers can identify and support women and girls living with FGM/C.
Key points
- 207 inpatients had a FGM/C diagnosis in Swiss university hospitals between 2016 and 2018
- 96% of admissions were to gynaecology or obstetrics divisions
- Few genito-urinary and psychosexual conditions related to FGM/C were coded
- FGM/C coding capacities in Swiss university hospitals are low
- Pregnancy and delivery represent key opportunities to identify and provide care for women with FGM/C
Limitations
This study only examined hospital records from four of five Swiss university hospitals, limiting geographical coverage. The low coding of complications means the actual health burden of FGM/C is likely underestimated by this administrative data.
Abstract
Background: Female genital mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) can result in short and long-term complications, which can impact physical, psychological and sexual health. Our objective was to obtain descriptive data about the most frequent health conditions and procedures associated with FGM/C in Swiss university hospitals inpatient women and girls with a diagnosis of FGM/C. Our research focused on the gynaecology and obstetrics departments. Methods: : We conducted an exploratory descriptive study to identify the health outcomes of women and girls with a coded FGM/C diagnose who had been admitted to Swiss university hospitals between 2016 and 2018. Four of the five Swiss university hospitals provided anonymized data on primary and secondary diagnoses coded with the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and interventions coded in their medical files. Results: Between 2016 and 2018, 207 inpatients had a diagnosis of FGM/C. The majority (96%) were admitted either to gynaecology or obstetrics divisions with few genito-urinary and psychosexual conditions coded. Conclusions: : FGM/C coding capacities in Swiss university hospitals are low, and some complications of FGM/C are probably not diagnosed. Pregnancy and delivery represent key moments to identify and offer medical care to women and girls who live with FGM/C. Trial registration This cross-sectional study (protocol number 2018-01851) was conducted in 2019, and approved by the Swiss ethics committee.