Evaluation of parents' knowledge and attitudes towards circumcision operation in children

Objective: The aim of our study is to measure the level of knowledge about circumcision in parents of children who will be circumcised, to compare their knowledge levels with the control group (parents of children who apply to the outpatient clinic for another reason) and to determine the relationship between the results and the sociodemographic characteristics of the parents. Materials and Methods: In Samsun Training and Research Hospital, Gynecology and Pediatrics Campus, an average of (6599+1801)/2= 4200 children were circumcised annually in the relevant health institution in the period before the pandemic (in 2019) and during the pandemic period (in 2020), ( 385.076+120.514)/2=252.795 children, who were admitted to the hospital for any reason, constitute the population of the study. A total of 634 parents, including at least 249 cases and 385 control groups, should be reached with 5% acceptable error and 95% confidence level, according to the sample calculation, within the 2-month period (1 January 2022- 28 February 2022) during which our study will be conducted. With the people determined by randomization, 635 (250 cases and 385 control groups) were reached. Data; Since a questionnaire with validity and reliability studies on the relevant subject could not be reached, a data collection form consisting of 29 questions designed with multiple-choice questions, which we created with a literature review, was collected in a 2-month period by face-to-face interview method with the participants, whose informed consent was obtained to participate in the study. Statistical evaluation of the obtained data was done using SPSS 15 program. For statistical significance, p value below 0.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of 685 people, including 481 women (75.7%) and 154 men (24.3%), participated in this study. When the occupational groups of the participants were examined, it was seen that the most 44.1% of them were housewives. While 97.5% were married, 2.5% were widowed or single. Considering the educational status of the participants, 27.6% were at primary school or below, 32.6% were at high school level, 39.8% were associate degree and above. It was 10.7% below the minimum wage, 57.6% between the minimum wage and the poverty line, and 31.7% above the poverty line. Considering the number of boys, it was seen that those with at most 1 boy were in the first place with a rate of 62.8%. When the places where the circumcision was performed were examined, respectively, hospital with 82.4%, home with 11.9%, private examination with 2.7%, mass circumcision environment with 2.0%, asm (family health center) with 1.0%. 76.9% had their child circumcised before, 2.2% of those circumcised were 0-28 days old, 10.4% at 1-6 months, 6.5% at 7-12 months, % 29.9% had circumcision between 1-3 years old, 29.2% between 3-6 years old, 21.7% between 6-12 years old. Conclusion: The knowledge level of the parents participating in our study about circumcision was below our expectations. It has been observed that a substantial portion of them are circumcised between the ages of 3-6. It is necessary to explain in detail at what age and why circumcision should be performed. In order to approach circumcision, which is an important surgical procedure, in a more scientific, conscious and correct way as a society, it is necessary to provide education on the benefits and necessity of circumcision.