Difficult to talk about genital mutilation during health talks - guide for school nurses in Västerås is developed

To ask the right questions, not be accusing and know how to respond to different answers.

It can be difficult when it comes to conversations about honor-related violence and oppression (HRVF).

That is the opinion of Jurgita Ravaityte Kristoffersson, who is the coordinator with a focus on HRVF at Central Student Health in the city of Västerås. 

- It is a taboo subject, both for the vulnerable and for us who meet the children.

We professionals are poorly equipped and need to learn more.

Therefore, this is a way to get better and become more comfortable raising the issue, she says.

"Need courage and knowledge"

Initially, the guide will mainly be used in health conversations with guardians of children in preschool class, but the idea is to develop it and be able to use the guide in health conversations for all year groups. 

- To be able to ask the questions about genital mutilation, courage and knowledge are needed.

Through the crib, we will be more prepared in more situations, explains Jurgita Ravaityte Kristoffersson. 

In addition to the guide, other school staff will also be trained more about HRVF.

Hear Jurgita Ravaityte Kristoffersson at Central student health talk about how the health conversations will go in the clip above.