Adem Altunkol1, Deniz Abat2, Ayşe Nur Topuz3, Ergün Alma1, Zafer Gökhan Gürbüz1, Ayhan Verit4. 1. Department of Urology, University of Health Sciences, Adana City Teaching and Research Hospital, Adana, Turkey. 2. Department of Urology, Ministry of Health, Iskenderun State Hospital, Hatay, Turkey. 3. Department of Family Medicine, Public Health Institution of Çukurova, Adana, Turkey. 4. Department of Urology, University of Health Sciences, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Teaching and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
Abstract
AIM: This study assessed the relationship between the education level of Muslim Turkish mothers whose sons had been circumcised and their views on circumcision. METHODS: Interviews based on 20 close-ended questions were carried out in the Çukurova region of southern Turkey between June 2015 and September 2016. The participants were 1497 Muslim Turkish mothers whose sons had been circumcised and who were recruited using convenience sampling in schools, hospitals and public spaces. RESULTS: Most (82%) of the mothers saw circumcision as a religious and traditional requirement, 64% mentioned the health benefits and 48% mentioned cosmetic appearance. The majority (80%) were performed by health organisations, with two-thirds (66%) expressing this preference. Most circumcisions were at school age (38%), which was about 6 years of age plus at the time of the study, and there were no complications in 79% of cases. Higher education levels were associated with views that circumcision was an important surgical procedure, it decreased the risk of urinary tract infections, it should be performed in hospitals and the foreskin did not prevent sexual intercourse. CONCLUSION: Circumcision was mainly seen as a religious and traditional ritual, and more highly educated Turkish Muslim mothers were better informed about the health aspects.
AIM: This study assessed the relationship between the education level of Muslim Turkish mothers whose sons had been circumcised and their views on circumcision. METHODS: Interviews based on 20 close-ended questions were carried out in the Çukurova region of southern Turkey between June 2015 and September 2016. The participants were 1497 Muslim Turkish mothers whose sons had been circumcised and who were recruited using convenience sampling in schools, hospitals and public spaces. RESULTS: Most (82%) of the mothers saw circumcision as a religious and traditional requirement, 64% mentioned the health benefits and 48% mentioned cosmetic appearance. The majority (80%) were performed by health organisations, with two-thirds (66%) expressing this preference. Most circumcisions were at school age (38%), which was about 6 years of age plus at the time of the study, and there were no complications in 79% of cases. Higher education levels were associated with views that circumcision was an important surgical procedure, it decreased the risk of urinary tract infections, it should be performed in hospitals and the foreskin did not prevent sexual intercourse. CONCLUSION: Circumcision was mainly seen as a religious and traditional ritual, and more highly educated Turkish Muslim mothers were better informed about the health aspects.