Beyond illegality : primary health care providers' perspectives on elimination of female genital mutilation/cutting

Aims and objectives: To report primary healthcare providers' perspectives on elimination of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). Background: Eradication of FGM/C by 2030 is one of the United Nations Sustainable Development goals. World Health Organization recognises the unique role of nurses and other primary healthcare providers. However, their voices on the current legislative approach are underreported. These voices are important in informing directions that can expedite achievement of the global goal. Design: Qualitative interpretivist phenomenology. Methods: This qualitative study used purposive sampling approach and involved 19 individual interviews conducted face to face or by telephone with Australian primary healthcare providers. Data collected between October and December 2019 were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Three themes exploring Australian healthcare providers' perspectives on elimination of FGM/C were identified, namely understanding Australian laws against FGM/C; perspectives on culturally sensitive education; and exploring public awareness raising activities in Australia. This study was guided by Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research, the checklist for qualitative studies. Results: “Understanding Australian laws against FGM/C” identified participants' knowledge that FGM/C is illegal in Australia and that mandatory reporting applies if a child is or at risk of being taken oversees for the procedure. Through “Perspectives on culturally sensitive education,” the participants argued that education is the key to questioning the practice of FGM/C. “Exploring public awareness-raising activities in Australia” described the need for collective action germane to FGM/C eradication. Conclusions: This study emphasised that laws and legislation prohibiting FGM/C need to be complemented with culturally sensitive education and public awareness-raising activities, to produce optimal outcome for the elimination of FGM/C in Australia. Relevance to clinical practice: Voices of these healthcare providers are crucial for FGM/C to be eradicated. Listening and acting on these voices are important in achieving the global sustainable development goal of eradicating FGM/C.