Preferred methods of male neonatal circumcision among mothers in lagos Nigeria

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.