Attitudes and practices regarding circumcision in Turkey.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Cultural Anthropology
• Public Health

Background:

• Circumcision is integral to masculine identity in Turkey, often performed later than in Western countries.
• The timing and practitioner of circumcision may significantly impact male psychosocial well-being.
• Understanding these cultural practices is crucial for assessing health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the demographics and motivations behind circumcision practices in Turkey.
• To explore the influence of fathers' past emotional experiences on current circumcision decisions.
• To analyze the role of tradition versus medical reasoning in the procedure's timing and execution.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving face-to-face interviews with parents of 1235 male children under 16.
• Data collected from well-child clinics and primary health centers in Ankara, Turkey.
• Questionnaires assessed circumcision timing, reasons, practitioners, and parental emotional recall.

Main Results:

• The median age for circumcision was 6 years, with only 14.8% performed before age one.
• Religious and traditional reasons were primary, with medical benefits cited by only 15.2% of families.
• Traditional circumcisers performed 13.3% of operations, and fathers recalled their own circumcisions as frightening and painful, with sons circumcised at similar ages.

Conclusions:

• Circumcision practices in Turkey remain heavily influenced by tradition regarding timing, reasons, and practitioners.
• Despite societal changes and education, traditional approaches to circumcision persist.
• The intergenerational impact of fathers' negative circumcision experiences warrants further investigation.