A Cross-sectional Study on the Prevalence of Cervical Dysplasia Among Women With Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting

Cervical dysplasia among migrant women with female genital mutilation/cutting type III: A cross-sectional study

Objective

To assess the rate of cervical dysplasia in a population of migrant women with female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) type III who attended a specialized clinic for FGM/C.

Methods

Descriptive retrospective cross‐sectional study reviewing electronic medical records of all infibulated women who attended a specialized clinic for women and girls with FGM/C at Geneva University Hospitals (2010–2016). We examined sociodemographic characteristics, parity, FGM/C subtypes, presence/grade of cervical dysplasia, colposcopy follow up/treatment, infections, and history of sexual violence.

Results

Out of 360 women reviewed, 188 women with FGM/C type III were included. Mean age of the women was 37.7 (±5.14) years. They were mostly from East Africa (n = 116, 61.7%). A total of 113 (60%) had undergone defibulation, the majority (105; 92.9%) without undergoing re‐infibulation. Cervical dysplasia was found in 20 (10.6%): 16 (8.5%) had a low‐grade grade squamous intraepithelial lesion or HPV‐positive atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance, Four (2.1%) had a high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, of which one was a carcinoma in situ. Seven (35%) of the women with dysplasia underwent colposcopies regularly, five (25%) irregularly, and eight (40%) dropped out of colposcopy follow up.

Conclusion

Cervical dysplasia is frequent among women with FGM/C type III and efforts should be made to guarantee follow up for migrant women.

Migrant women with female genital mutilation/cutting type III have a high prevalence of cervical dysplasia.