The Swedish Social Welfare Board estimates 38,000 girls, women are mutilated
According to a survey conducted by the National Board of Health and Welfare, at least 38,000 mutilated girls and women live in Sweden. The National Board of Health and Welfare has conducted the survey among health centers, youth clinics, gynecological clinics, maternal health care and school nurses. The National Board of Health and Welfare expressed concern that the girls and women had been subjected to genital mutilation in Sweden.
In it press release, the National Board of Health and Welfare has stated that some of the girls and women who have been subjected to genital mutilation have not sought care. They added that only 5,000 people have sought care, usually due to pregnancy.
In addition, a survey conducted by the National Board of Health and Welfare has shown that more knowledge is required in health care and student health.
Female and female genital mutilation
The National Board of Health and Welfare emphasized that it is often girls between the ages of 4 and 14 who are subjected to genital mutilation. The board emphasized the importance of educating students about this at preschool and school level.
Furthermore, they emphasized that just under 28% of school nurses and 45% in youth clinics work preventively against female genital mutilation. In addition, 49% of the heads of operations at the health centers informed that the staff at their reception had no training in genital mutilation.
Nearly 55% stated that none of the staff participated in the online training on “genital mutilation” which was arranged by the National Board of Health and Welfare.
The National Board of Health and Welfare has been commissioned by the government to investigate the care of girls and women who have been subjected to genital mutilation. They have asked to be allowed to analyze and assess that the care offered to them is the same between the regions.
Investigator Sharareh Akhavan informed in a press release that they conducted interviews for the investigation and found out that it is a trauma to be mutilated. According to the press release, genital mutilation causes difficulty sleeping, anxiety and low self-esteem among women and girls.
“As part of the study, we interviewed, among others, cultural doulors, who are women who have experience of childbirth and are trained in providing support and information to the woman and her loved ones. They testified that it is a life trauma, it is a a “disaster” to be mutilated. “
“The consequences of genital mutilation can be that the woman or girl has difficulty sleeping, has anxiety and has low self-esteem. There is a lot of taboo and shame around the issue, which means that they rarely talk about their problems,” Sharareh said Akhavan in the press release.