Another look at the circumcision debate: opinions of nursing-home caregivers

Little is known about the pros and cons of circumcision in older men. While the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests there are potential medical benefits of circumcision, early and mid-life concerns guide this reasoning. This article's study was devised to investigate the impact of non-circumcision on elderly, institutionalized males. Caregivers from two nursing homes were asked their opinions about and experiences with caring for uncircumcised males. Survey results indicate that these caregivers strongly support routine neonatal circumcision. Even though nursing-home caregivers are prepared to provide personal hygiene for their male patients, they believe circumcision prevents infection and makes hygiene easier. The caregivers preferred neonatal circumcision over adult circumcision because they believed circumcision to be less painful for a neonate. Included in this article are recommendations for future research.