Title: Attitude and intention of migrant populations in the Netherlands regarding Female Genital
Mutilation/Cutting
Version: 1 Date: 30 May 2022
Reviewer's report:
First of all, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to review this article.
Formal aspects.
- Why is it included in the abstract after the summary? Integrate this information in the abstract
and the introductory part.
- Review bibliographic references. The study would benefit from an update of the bibliographic
review that supports the study. Those bibliographic citations older than 5 years should be
reviewed and updated whenever possible.
Background
Addresses the main issues of the study, although it does so in a very superficial manner. This
section would benefit from a brief explanation of the causes of FGM. It is necessary to address
the cause and explain the reason for this type of actions on women's bodies. Considering that
the nexus of any argumentation in favor of FGM is determined by gender issues, it is necessary
to include an argued reflection on this.
Methods:
This section requires information on
- Methodological orientation of the study. The type of study (qualitative) is included but not the
methodological approach or orientation. Include and justify.
- Selection of participants: What relationship did the researcher have with the participants?
Include that the researcher's network is used, but not what type of relationship links them. It is
necessary to be transparent in these aspects to be aware of the possibility of bias.
- Were the themes or script for the interview and focus groups the same?
- During sampling, were there any losses during sample selection? Did any participants decline
to participate? Include information regarding the entire sampling process.
- The analysis section should be more precise since it addresses the type of analysis very
superficially. In this sense, it should include at what moments the return to participants is
included or how the work of the various authors is integrated into the analysis. In addition, it is
stated that "and additional codes were added if necessary." In this sense we can imagine that it
was. Therefore, the conditional should be removed from the wording.
- Include dates when the study was carried out.
Result
- The section "Role of adverse health consequences in the discontinuation of FGM/C" is
very superficial and no verbatim is provided to support all the remas mentioned. It would be
interesting to go more deeply into this aspect and then contrast it with the existing current
literature.
- The results presented in the section "Decisions and intentions to perform Female Genital
Mutilation/Cutting" are not supported by verbatim.
Discussion and conclusions
The discussion runs through the main results of the study, although it would benefit from a
comparison with updated literature. There is literature on FGM population in the diaspora that
addresses the main issues raised in the outcome section.
- Regarding the influence of legislation on abandonment of the practice. The literature supports
its importance (in the diaspora and at origin) but it is also necessary to specify its negative
influence related to concealment. Include comparative reflection with results.
- For a better understanding, the recommendation section should be integrated into the
conclusions section.
Ultimately, the results corroborate known information and improve understanding of the
phenomenon.