Rätt till hälsa

There is a lack of knowledge and research about what support older women who have been subjected to genital mutilation need. Information and educational materials for professionals in elderly care are also notably absent. National actors such as SKR and the National Board of Health and Welfare offer support aimed at staff who encounter children, young people, and women of childbearing age – but not to those who encounter older women.

Therefore, a needs assessment is necessary to describe the needs within municipal care and the needs of older women who have been subjected to genital mutilation. Without such an assessment, there is a significant risk that the solutions developed will miss the mark. The absence of a needs assessment risks causing more suffering for the women, as well as increased frustration and a sense of inadequacy among the care staff.

In the project Rätt till hälsa, such an assessment is being conducted, where interviews with women in the target group, as well as with staff from municipal care, are used to identify and define knowledge gaps and needs.

In the project, RISE is responsible for ensuring research integrity and quality in the design and implementation, for example during interviews, analysis, and final reporting. RISE is also responsible for conducting interviews with representatives from municipal care organizations.

The project is coordinated by Jämställd Utveckling Skåne, which works with structural change efforts related to gender equality policy goals, conducts analyses, performs mappings, provides education and process leadership, develops and implements methods, and evaluates and follows up on gender equality work.

The project also involves Existera, which works against the genital mutilation of girls, provides support to women who have been subjected to genital mutilation, and works to prevent more girls from being subjected to it. Existera educates and advises professionals, such as staff within social services and schools.