Counselling for deinfibulation among women with type III female genital mutilation: A systematic review

Background Counselling is a routine practice done before deinfibulation in women with type III female genital mutilation (FGM). However, cultural and social pressures, in addition to maladaptation to the changes in the body post deinfibulation, cause some women to choose to be reinfibulated after being deinfibulated. Objective To conduct a systematic review of the impact of counselling prior to deinfibulation on patient satisfaction, marital satisfaction, and rate of requests for reinfibulation among women living with type III FGM. The secondary aim was to assess the impact of male partner involvement in counselling on patient satisfaction, marital satisfaction, and rate of requests for reinfibulation. Search strategy Major databases including Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Medline, SCOPUS, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched until August 2015. Selection criteria Studies comparing women with type III FGM who received counselling before deinfibulation versus no counselling were included. Data collection and analysis Two team members independently screened and collected data. Results No eligible studies were identified. Conclusion There is no evidence to conclude that counselling before deinfibulation influences patients’ satisfaction with overall quality of care or rates of request for reinfibulation. PROSPERO registration CRD42015024675.