Survey on Perception of Adult Males for Circumcision Preformed in Gwangju and Jeonnam Area

Im, Chang Min; Oh, Byung Seok; Oh, Kyung Jin; Park, Sung Hun; Kim, Kang Won; Kang, Taek Won; Kwon, Dong Deuk; Park, Kwangsung; Ryu, Soo Bang; Park, Yang Il

Abstract

Circumcision in childhood is wildly practiced in Korea, but there is controversy surrounding the benefits and risks to health of a circumcision. This study was to evaluate the knowledge and general opinion of Korean adult males toward circumcision. Two thousand self-completed questionnaires were distributed to adult males of six major age groups ranging from 10s to 60s divided into decades. The subjects were interviewed about their circumcision status, their age at circumcision, their cognition of circumcision, their reasons and thoughts relating to circumcision and their current knowledge of the health benefits and risk associated with circumcision. The response rate was 78% (1,551/2,000). Of 1,124 responders, 898 (80%) were circumcised. The most common age at circumcision was over 18 years of age (30%). The principal reason for circumcision was improvement of penile hygiene (66%). However, about more than half mentioned that they did not know whether circumcision had other medical benefits. There were no predominant medical reasons for circumcision in the subjects except hygienic benefits. Therefore, it is essential to explain the benefits and disadvantages of a circumcision to patients.