Circumcision: perspective in a Nigerian teaching hospital

Area of Science:

• Paediatric Surgery
• Urology

Background:

• Male circumcision practices are influenced by cultural, religious, and socioeconomic factors.
• Hospital-based circumcision is increasingly accepted due to ongoing debates on its benefits and risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the demographics, indications, methods, anesthesia use, and outcomes of male circumcision.
• Focus on a tertiary health center in Nigeria.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of male circumcision cases from January 2002 to December 2007.
• Data analysis using SPSS software version 15.

Main Results:

• 438 boys studied; 46% were neonates (under 29 days), 72.6% circumcised by 3 months.
• Major indications: religion/tradition (87.7%), phimosis (8.7%). Plastibel™ (48.9%) and classical circumcision (44.2%) were common methods.
• Anesthesia administered in only 39.7%; complication rate was 6.7%.

Conclusions:

• Neonatal circumcision is prevalent in hospital settings, with appropriate device use observed.
• The low rate of anesthesia administration during male circumcision is unacceptable and requires attention.