Case--control study of counselling against neonatal circumcision

Abstract

After two serious complications had alerted physicians to the potential risks of routine neonatal circumcision, the circumcision rate in a regional general hospital decreased significantly (p less than 0.001), from approximately 40% to 20%, settling at the level claimed to prevail when physicians oppose circumcision. Following this decrease 219 consecutive pregnancies resulting in male infants were prospectively studied in order to identify factors associated with insistence on circumcision. Factors significantly associated with circumcision were the existence of an older brother (p less than 0.001), especially if circumcised (p less than 0.001), and delivery of prenatal care by an obstetrician rather than a general practitioner (p less than 0.05). Factors significantly associated with no circumcision were the fact that this infant was the first male born in the family (p = 0.001), delivery of prenatal and infant care by the same general practitioner (p less than 0.05) and a maternal age of 20 years or less (p less than 0.02). The circumcision status of the father, the marital status of the mother, the mother's intention to breast-feed, attendance of a primigravida at prenatal classes, delivery of infant care by a pediatrician and socioeconomic status did not appear to influence whether circumcision was performed. These data may assist physicians in understanding the potential effectiveness and limitations of counselling against circumcision.