Female Genital Cutting and the Need for Culturally Competent Communication

Family nurse practitioners may encounter immigrant women patients, especially from African countries, who have undergone female genital cutting (FGC). These patients have reported insensitivity among caregivers from Western cultures. For this reason, nurse practitioners must recognize that their own cultural views about the procedure affect the nurse-patient relationship. This article focuses primarily on the importance of culturally competent communication; it also defines the types of FGC, reports the prevalence, considers legal and ethical issues, and provides a table listing possible complications. Drawing on research findings, the authors recommend specific topics for communication with patients.