PREFERRED METHODS OF MALE NEONATAL CIRCUMCISION AMONG MOTHERS IN LAGOS NIGERIA
Ademuyiwa AO
Jeje EA
Elebute OA
Ikhisemojie SO
Adesanya OA
Department of Surgery
College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi Araba,
PMB 12003, Lagos, Nigeria.
E-mail: cobode@yahoo.com
*Correspondence
Grant support: None
Conflict of Interest: None
ABSTRACT
Background: Although male neonatal circumcision is routinely done in many parts of Africa for cultural reasons, little is known about the reasons for neonatal circumcisions in metropolitan settings.
Objectives: To elucidate from mothers reasons and preferred methods for circumcising male children in Lagos
Setting: Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria. Patients, Materials and Method: One thousand and two consecutive mothers of male children were interviewed through a questionnaire-based survey to determine the reasons why their male children were circumcised and their preferred method.
Results: A thousand and two mothers were interviewed. One thousand, seven hundred and seventy five (1775) male children from these mothers, comprising 59.7% of the children and all of whom had been circumcised in Lagos were the subjects of this study. The Plastibell kit method was preferred by 415 mothers (41.5%) of mothers while the open surgical dissection method was employed in 15%. The Gomco method was only requested by 16 mothers (1.6%). Six hundred and six mothers (60.6%) mothers circumcised their children for traditional reasons while 20.8% believed it fulfilled their religious obligations.
Conclusion: Most male children in Lagos were circumcised for traditional and religious reasons. The Plastibell kit is the method of choice for male circumcision among mothers in Lagos.Key words: Neonatal circumcision methods, Maternal preferences, Plastibell device, Cultural and religious reasons, Lagos, Nigeria.