Female Genital Mutilation (FGM): Health, Law, and Socio-Cultural Sensitivity (FutureLearn)

Understand the many impacts of FGM and the legal duty of a health and social care professional in reporting FGM practices. Help bridge the gap between FGM and medical education. FGM causes devastating mental and physical health impacts. Yet a gap in education on FGM has led to a lack of confidence among health care professionals to deal with this harmful practice. On this four-week course, you’ll build your understanding of Female Genital Mutilation to help you recognise and report indicators of FGM or plans to inflict it.

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This knowledge will increase your confidence and help you play a role in ending FGM.

Discover the impacts of FGM on women and girl’s health

You’ll learn the definition and the four types of Female Genital Mutilation before exploring the physiological and psychological aspects of FGM on women and girl’s health.

This understanding will help you identify the clinical diagnosis and the treatment for both the physical and mental health of victims of FGM.

Explore the legal duty of health and social care workers in reporting FGM

There is a legal duty for health and social care professionals, educators, and police personnel to recognise and report physical or other indicators of FGM practices.

You’ll evaluate when and how it is appropriate to act in relation to your legal responsibilities and learn to apply your knowledge to recognise and report FGM.

Explore different perspectives alongside the experts at the University of Aberdeen

You’ll explore socio-cultural perspectives of FGM and how to manage difficult conversations.

This critical approach will help you analyse case studies of FGM practices from a range of perspectives.

You’ll learn from the experts at the University of Aberdeen who have created the course alongside a team of academics and medics who have been working on FGM projects for a number of years.

Syllabus

Week 1: An Introduction to FGM

Week 2: FGM and the Wider Picture

Week 3: FGM Legislation and Safeguarding

Week 4: Public Health and Critical Approaches to Tackling FGM

Learning on this course

You can take this self-guided course and learn at your own pace. On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

- Identify the four types of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and their characteristics

- Describe the physical and psychological, cultural and social aspects and impacts of FGM

- Apply knowledge and understanding (recognising FGM; reporting FGM; advocacy);

- Critique case studies of FGM practices from a range of perspectives

- Evaluate when and how it is appropriate to act in relation to legal responsibilities as a health and social care professional, educator or employee of a police service

- Contribute to the creation of strategies to end FGM
Who is the course for?

This course is designed for health and social care professionals, educators, police, and anyone with an interest in women and girl’s health and ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).