[An atlas on Female Genital Mutilation/ Cutting among children and adolescents].

This is a medical reference guide designed to help health professionals identify signs of female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C) in children and adolescents. FGM/C typically occurs before age 15, but most published literature focuses on adults, creating a gap in clinical guidance. The guide uses illustrations to show the appearance of female external genitals with and without FGM/C, accounting for different types and presentation. It aims to support healthcare workers in diagnosis, clinical management, and reporting to child protection authorities.

Key points

• FGM/C is usually performed before age 15, but clinical literature predominantly focuses on adults
• Signs of FGM/C can be subtle and vary depending on the type of mutilation and the examiner's experience
• The guide contains iconographic material showing pre- and post-pubertal female external genitals with and without FGM/C
• Developed by 23 professionals and published in 2022 as an open-access resource
• Intended to train health professionals in diagnosis, clinical management, and reporting to child safeguarding and law enforcement

Limitations

The document does not report evaluation data on whether the guide improves health professionals' ability to diagnose FGM/C or affects reporting rates. It also does not specify which countries or regions are covered by the illustrative material.