Knowledge and Attitude Toward Circumcision in Korean: a Questionnaire Study for Adult Males Stratified by Age

Kim, Taehun; Oh, Seung June; Choi, Hwang

Abstract

PURPOSE: Circumcision in childhood is widely practiced in Korea, but the Korean attitude to circumcision has not been well studied. Our aim was to evaluatethe knowledge and general opinion of Korean adult males toward circumcision.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
One thousand five hundred self-completed questionnaires were distributed to adult males of five major age groups from 10s' to 50s' divided into decades. Questions asked about the responders' opinions regarding the necessity, reasons, potential benefits, and disadvantages for circumcision, and also asked if there was any peer pressure when deciding upon circumcision. The responses were collected and analyzed statistically.
RESULTS
The response rate was 62.7% (936). Of 836 responders, 611 (73.1%) believed that circumcision is necessary, while 59 (7.1%) believed it to be unnecessary. The principal reason for circumcision was improvement of penile hygiene (77.9%). Of 921 responders, 768 (83.4%) believed that the smegma is a dirty material infected by microorganisms. Of 901 responders, 619 (68.7%) didn't prefer the neonatal period regardless of age. The major reason was pain (36.9%). Peer pressure was one of the most influencing factors when deciding upon circumcision: 540 (60.8%) of 888 responders believed that they might be ridiculed by their peer group unless they were circumcised and the younger, the more frequent (p<0.05). Of 917 responders, 616 (62.7%) thought that circumcision would prevent genital tract infection of the sexual partner. Responders with lower education or older responders were prone to emphasize the improvement in sexual potency (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Our study indicates that common beliefs held by adult males about the prepuce or circumcision are homogeneous according to age. It is critical to tailor education about the potential benefits and disadvantages of circumcision.