Sociodemographic determinants oi childhood male circumcision by traditional practitioners in a rural Nigerian town

Abstract

Introduction: Circumcision, often associated with adverse effects, is performed by medical personnel and traditional circumcisers in Africa, with higher complication rate when performed by the latter. The aim of the study was to evaluate the sociodemographic determinants of seeking for male circumcision in childhood by a traditional practitioner. Materials and methods: This were a cross-sectional study conducted in Igbo Ora, a rural community, in Southwest Nigeria between April and September 2017. One mother was selected from each enumerated household using multi-staged sampling technique and information obtained with intervieweradministered questionnaires. Results: A total of 317 participants were recruited with a median age of 40.0 years. The majority were Yoruba (290, 91.5%), Muslims (198, 62.5%) and unskilled workers (244, (77.0%). All had one or more sons circumcised; the last was by: doctors (28, 8.8%), nurses (214, 67.5%) or traditional circumcisers (75, 23.7%). A traditional circumciser was more often involved when mother was Yoruba, less educated, unskilled worker, baby delivered at government hospital/home, when circumcision was done long ago or has multiple sons (p < 0.001). The determinants of involvement of a traditional circumciser were: tribe (OR = 20.83,95% CI: 2.42, 166.67, p = 0.006), education (OR = 34.48, 95% CI: 8.20, 142.86, p < 0.001), occupational class (OR = 8.11, 95% CI: 1.32, 49.80, p = 0.024) and how recent circumcision was (OR = 2.96, 95% CI: 1.41, 6.24, p = 0.004). Conclusion: Tribe, education and occupational class are factors that determine patronage of traditional circumcisers.