{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]],"date-time":"2026-09-28T17:55:53Z","timestamp":1790618153218,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":29,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,27]],"date-time":"2026-09-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790467200000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":26,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Austrian Federal Chancellery","award":["n\/a"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["n\/a"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["BMJ Open"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,3]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,9]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objectives<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>To assess self-reported knowledge, training and clinical practices related to female genital mutilation\/cutting (FGM\/C) among healthcare professionals in Austria and to identify profession-specific gaps relevant to prevention and care.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Design<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Cross-sectional online survey.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Setting<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Nationwide survey conducted in Austria between September 2023 and February 2024.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Participants<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A convenience sample of 537 healthcare professionals, including midwives (29%, n=157), gynaecologists (21%, n=113), general practitioners (18%, n=95), paediatricians (13%, n=72), and other (19%, n=100). Participants were recruited via professional associations.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Main outcome measures<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Self-reported knowledge of FGM\/C (including WHO typology, Austrian legislation and International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 codes), exposure to FGM\/C training during professional education, clinical experience with patients from FGM\/C-practising countries and comfort discussing FGM\/C in clinical practice. Associations between professional group and outcome measures were analysed using logistic regression.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Knowledge gaps were particularly pronounced as 63% of respondents were unfamiliar with legislation and 85% lacked knowledge of relevant ICD-10 codes. Compared with general practitioners, gynaecologists reported higher knowledge of legislation (adjusted OR (aOR)=4.75; 95%\u2009CI 2.47 to 9.14), traditional and cultural aspects (aOR=2.65; 95%\u2009CI 1.39 to 5.05) and ICD-10 codes (aOR=4.52; 95%\u2009CI 1.87 to 10.97). Only 34% (n=182) reported receiving any FGM\/C training during professional education. Demand for additional training was high, particularly regarding legal frameworks (88%, n=474) and WHO typology (74%, n=397). Paediatricians were significantly less likely to feel comfortable initiating discussions about FGM\/C (aOR=0.17; 95%\u2009CI 0.08 to 0.36) compared with general practitioners, whereas gynaecologists reported the highest comfort levels (aOR=1.44; 95%\u2009CI 0.64 to 3.28).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Substantial, profession-specific gaps in knowledge and training on FGM\/C exist among healthcare professionals in Austria. Despite increasing availability of specialised services, insufficient integration of FGM\/C into professional education may hinder effective prevention, identification and care. Targeted and systematic training, particularly for paediatricians and general practitioners, alongside national clinical guidelines may strengthen healthcare responses to FGM\/C in Austria.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2026-119483","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]],"date-time":"2026-09-28T17:00:34Z","timestamp":1790614834000},"page":"e119483","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Knowledge, training and clinical practice related to female genital mutilation\/cutting among healthcare professionals in Austria: a cross-sectional online survey"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-0980-7285","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anna Christina","family":"Maukner","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3612-7332","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sandra","family":"Haider","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Umyma","family":"El Jelede","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Women\u2019s Health Center FEM-S\u00fcd, Vienna, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hilde","family":"Wolf","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Women\u2019s Health Center FEM-S\u00fcd, Vienna, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Suad","family":"Sheikh Mohamed","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0621-5083","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Susanne","family":"Gahbauer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8304-2518","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Elena","family":"Jirovsky-Platter","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"2026092810001598000_16.9.e119483.1","unstructured":"WHO . WHO Guidelines on the Management of Health Complications from Female Genital Mutilation. Geneva: World Health Organisation, 2016."},{"key":"2026092810001598000_16.9.e119483.2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"218","DOI":"10.1038\/s41443-022-00661-6","article-title":"Health outcomes and female genital mutilation\/cutting: how much is due to the cutting itself?","volume":"35","author":"Johnson-Agbakwu","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int J Impot Res"},{"key":"2026092810001598000_16.9.e119483.3","unstructured":"UNICEF . Female Genital Mutilation. A global concern. New York: UNICEF Data and Analytics Section, Division of Data, Analytics, Planning and Monitoring, 2024."},{"key":"2026092810001598000_16.9.e119483.4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s12913-018-3033-x","article-title":"Health sector involvement in the management of female genital mutilation\/cutting in 30 countries","volume":"18","author":"Johansen","year":"2018","journal-title":"BMC Health Serv Res"},{"key":"2026092810001598000_16.9.e119483.5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s12978-017-0318-1","article-title":"What do we know about assessing healthcare students and professionals\u2019 knowledge, attitude and practice regarding female genital mutilation? A systematic review","volume":"14","author":"Abdulcadir","year":"2017","journal-title":"Reprod Health"},{"key":"2026092810001598000_16.9.e119483.6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"449","DOI":"10.1007\/s10903-022-01437-2","article-title":"Attitudes and Experiences Surrounding Female Genital Mutilation\/Cutting in the United States: A Scoping Review","volume":"25","author":"Besera","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Immigr Minor Health"},{"key":"2026092810001598000_16.9.e119483.7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s12913-018-3396-z","article-title":"Knowledge, attitudes and practices of primary healthcare professionals to female genital mutilation in Valencia, Spain: are we ready for this challenge?","volume":"18","author":"Gonz\u00e1lez-Timoneda","year":"2018","journal-title":"BMC Health Serv Res"},{"key":"2026092810001598000_16.9.e119483.8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/1472-6963-9-11","article-title":"Perception of primary health professionals about female genital mutilation: from healthcare to intercultural competence","volume":"9","author":"Kaplan-Marcusan","year":"2009","journal-title":"BMC Health Serv Res"},{"key":"2026092810001598000_16.9.e119483.9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Robinson ME , Prior J , Mallen CD , et al . Knowledge, attitudes, and practice of female genital mutilation and cutting: an observational cross-sectional study in English primary care (FGM\/C Study). BJGP Open 2023;7. doi:10.3399\/BJGPO.2023.0005","DOI":"10.3399\/BJGPO.2023.0005"},{"key":"2026092810001598000_16.9.e119483.10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100","DOI":"10.12968\/bjon.2023.32.3.100","article-title":"Female genital mutilation in high-income countries: knowledge and experience among health professionals","volume":"32","author":"Sheerin","year":"2023","journal-title":"Br J Nurs"},{"key":"2026092810001598000_16.9.e119483.11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s12913-023-09085-4","article-title":"Factors associated with general practitioners\u2019 routines and comfortability with assessing female genital cutting: a cross-sectional survey","volume":"23","author":"Ziyada","year":"2023","journal-title":"BMC Health Serv Res"},{"key":"2026092810001598000_16.9.e119483.12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3390\/healthcare9080974","article-title":"Female Genital Mutilation: Knowledge and Skills of Health Professionals","volume":"9","author":"Molina-Gallego","year":"2021","journal-title":"Healthcare (Basel)"},{"key":"2026092810001598000_16.9.e119483.13","unstructured":"Jirovsky E , Maukner A , Mohamed S , et al . Female genital mutilation\/cutting (FGM\/C) in \u00d6sterreich \u2013 Eine Mixed-Methods-Studie. Endbericht. Wien Medizinische Universit\u00e4t Wien; 2024."},{"key":"2026092810001598000_16.9.e119483.14","unstructured":"OECD, European observatory on health systems and policies. country health profile 2025: Austria. state of health in the EU. Paris\/European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, Brussels; 2025."},{"key":"2026092810001598000_16.9.e119483.15","unstructured":"Rosanelli ME . Zur rechtlichen Lage von FGM\/C in \u00d6sterreich. 2022. Available: https:\/\/fgm-koordinationsstelle.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/rechtliche-Aspekte-FGMC-in-Oesterreich.pdf"},{"key":"2026092810001598000_16.9.e119483.16","unstructured":"Hofst\u00e4tter V . Tabuisierte Ausnahme oder Berufsalltag? Wissensstand und Erfahrungen \u00f6sterreichischer Hebammen zum Thema Weibliche Genitalverst\u00fcmmelung. Wien Diplomarbeit Universit\u00e4t Wien; 2012."},{"key":"2026092810001598000_16.9.e119483.17","unstructured":"K\u00f6lbl B , Schl\u00f6gel R . Genitalverst\u00fcmmelung in \u00d6sterreich \u2013 eine Umfrage unter niedergelassenen Gyn\u00e4kolog\/inn\/en und Kinder\u00e4rzt\/inn\/en sowie unter Krankenanstalten. 2006."},{"key":"2026092810001598000_16.9.e119483.18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-022-14773-7","article-title":"Female genital mutilation\/cutting incidence, diagnostic capacities, and obstetric outcomes among migrant women: a single-center retrospective analysis in a 10-year birth cohort in Austria","volume":"23","author":"Taumberger","year":"2023","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"2026092810001598000_16.9.e119483.19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11606-021-06737-1"},{"key":"2026092810001598000_16.9.e119483.20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"954","DOI":"10.1007\/s10903-018-0833-3","article-title":"Female Genital Cutting: Clinical knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices from a Provider survey in the US","volume":"21","author":"Lane","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Immigr Minor Health"},{"key":"2026092810001598000_16.9.e119483.21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"25","DOI":"10.1016\/j.wombi.2017.06.009","article-title":"A survey of Australian midwives\u2019 knowledge, experience, and training needs in relation to female genital mutilation","volume":"31","author":"Turkmani","year":"2018","journal-title":"Women Birth"},{"key":"2026092810001598000_16.9.e119483.22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"668","DOI":"10.1007\/s10903-019-00938-x","article-title":"Female Genital Mutilation\/Cutting-Pediatric Physician Knowledge, Training, and General Practice Approach","volume":"22","author":"Young","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Immigr Minor Health"},{"key":"2026092810001598000_16.9.e119483.23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1943","DOI":"10.1007\/s10508-020-01676-0","article-title":"Deinfibulation Contextualized: Delicacies of Shared Decision-Making in the Clinic","volume":"50","author":"Johnsdotter","year":"2021","journal-title":"Arch Sex Behav"},{"key":"2026092810001598000_16.9.e119483.24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s12978-021-01274-w","article-title":"Commentary: What should referral pathways have to improve healthcare experiences of women with female genital mutilation in Australia?","volume":"18","author":"Njue","year":"2021","journal-title":"Reprod Health"},{"key":"2026092810001598000_16.9.e119483.25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-021-11160-6","article-title":"Female genital mutilation\/cutting (FGM\/C) coding capacities in Swiss university hospitals using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)","volume":"21","author":"Cottler-Casanova","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"2026092810001598000_16.9.e119483.26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"958","DOI":"10.1097\/AOG.0000000000001686","article-title":"Female Genital Mutilation: A Visual Reference and Learning Tool for Health Care Professionals","volume":"128","author":"Abdulcadir","year":"2016","journal-title":"Obstet Gynecol"},{"key":"2026092810001598000_16.9.e119483.27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0211829","article-title":"Crossing cultural divides: A qualitative systematic review of factors influencing the provision of healthcare related to female genital mutilation from the perspective of health professionals","volume":"14","author":"Evans","year":"2019","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"2026092810001598000_16.9.e119483.28","unstructured":"Bundesministerium f\u00fcr Arbeit, Soziales, Gesunheit, Pflege und Konsumentenschutz (BMASGPK) . Medizinische dokumentation \u2013 Codierhinweise bis inklusive 41. LKF-Rundschreiben. Vienna BMASGPK; 2025."},{"key":"2026092810001598000_16.9.e119483.29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Libretti A , Bianco G , Remorgida V , et al . Awareness knowledge and preparedness regarding female genital mutilation cutting among obstetrics and gynecology trainees. 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