ABSTRACT
In 2016, it was estimated that about 200 million women worldwide had experienced female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), although this number has ballooned since revelation that Indonesia also carries out FGM. Excision exists, importantly, also among immigrant populations in Western countries. Most recently, about 513,000 female residents in the USA are thought to have experienced or are at risk of FGM due to migration from practicing ethnicities. Given political instabilities and other socio-economic factors, from 1990 to 2000, the African immigrant population grew exponentially in North America, and many excised newcomers continue to suffer from their wounds. Although physical sequelae have been addressed in several studies, few consider the psychological aftermath. Thus, to close the gap in mental health literature, this pilot study describes common mental symptoms among survivors, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. We also explore coping mechanisms these women have adopted, asking them what they would recommend to social workers. This qualitative research will assist clinicians to better understand the emotional and behavioral impact of genital cutting and to improve the healing environment for patients – fundamental in building trust in the therapeutic relationship.
