Nursing contributions to the prevention of female genital mutilation in multicultural contexts: A scoping review

Female genital mutilation (FGM) remains a global public health and human rights concern that increasingly affects multicultural societies due to migration and population mobility. Despite expanding prevention efforts, limited synthesis exists on the specific nursing contributions to FGM prevention across high-prevalence and migrant-receiving settings.

To map and critically examine nursing contributions to FGM prevention in multicultural contexts, identifying nursing contribution domains, evidence gaps, implications for nursing education, practice, research and health policy.

A scoping review was conducted following Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and reported according to PRISMA-ScR guidelines.

Across 16 included sources, nursing contributions were mapped across individual, family, community, and health-system levels encompassing health education, preventive counseling, culturally responsive communication, risk identification, safeguarding conversations, referral, community engagement, professional training, and protocol-informed practice. However, the predominantly descriptive evidence highlights limited clarity regarding nursing roles, competencies, and intervention components, as well as their inconsistently integration into health systems, referral pathways, and professional training. These findings suggest a need for clearer nursing roles and stronger organizational support for FGM prevention.

Nursing contributions to FGM prevention are multifaceted and extend beyond direct clinical care. Greater conceptual clarity, the integration of culturally responsive and trauma-informed principles, stronger integration into health systems and evaluation research are needed to strengthen prevention-oriented nursing practice in multicultural contexts.