Diagnoses and procedures of inpatients with Female Genital
Mutilation/Cutting in Swiss university Hospitals: a cross-sectional
study
Abstract
Objective: 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 female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in
Swiss university hospital inpatient women and girls with a diagnosis of
FGM/C. Our research focused on the gynaecology and obstetrics
departments. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Swiss university
hospitals (Geneva, Lausanne, Bern, Basel and Zurich). Population:
Inpatient women and girls with a primary or secondary coded diagnosis of
FGM/C. Methods: Four of the five Swiss university hospitals provided
anonymized data on all inpatient women and girls admitted between 2016
and 2018 who had a primary or secondary diagnosis of FGM/C. Main
outcomes measures: Primary and secondary diagnoses coded with the
International Classifications 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.
Funding: Swiss Federal Office of Public Health, Swiss Network against
Female Circumcision, Caritas Switzerland. Keywords: Female genital
mutilation, female genital cutting, female genital mutilation/cutting,
international classification of diseases, ICD, coding, Switzerland