Question

Using the assigned readings and information from the literature, compose a response to the following:

“The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) believes that circumcision has potential benefits and advantages, as well as risks.” (AAP.org) For this activity, you will weigh in on the circumcision debate.

Faculty will divide the class into two groups. Please see announcement to find your assigned team.

Initial Discussion Post:

Team 1 (Pro):

Regardless of your personal beliefs, debate the for (pro) circumcision stance

Address the cultural and socioeconomic influences in your debate

Justify and cite your work from current resources

Answer 1

Circumcision is the surgical removal of some, or all, of the foreskin or prepuce from the penis. Circumcision is considered to be one of the most common procedures in the world. Regardless of this, circumcision does carry several risks as it is a surgical procedure. The ultimate choice to elect for circumcision falls onto the parents of the infant ("Male Circumcision", 2012).

Parents elect not have the circumcision performed on their male child as it is a painful procedure and runs the risk of cold exposure and infection (Pilitteri, 2014). Complications associated with the surgical procedure are categorized as early or late onset. The early complications of circumcision include bleeding, pain, inadequate or excessive skin removal, and surgical site infection. Later complications include epidermal inclusion cysts, suture sinus tracts, penile adhesions, chordee, meatitis, and meatal stenosis. These complications often require surgical correction resulting in a substantial cost to the healthcare system (Krill, Palmer, & Palmer, 2011). If consent is obtained from the parents of the infant to perform circumcision, a thorough physical assessment must be done and an extensive family history obtained. Circumcision is contraindicated in patients who have a familial history of bleeding tendency. Also contraindicated in newborns diagnosed with hypospadias or epispadias because the foreskin may be needed for the repair of these defects (Pillitteri, 2014). The existing scientific evidence regarding circumcision is not enough to recommend performing this procedure routinely because it is not essential to an infant’s well-being.

Circumcision is historically associated with religious practices and ethnic identity. Many of the major religions around the world practice circumcision of male children as a sacred rite or a form of purification. There are those religious sects that are opposed to the procedure, viewing it as a “pagan ritual,” while there are others that require circumcision of males for membership in the church. Also, tribal groups in Africa perform circumcision on male children as an initiation rite into manhood. Certain societies view circumcision of males as a social statement and a sign of sexual attractiveness and pleasure (Weiss, et al., 2008). As healthcare professionals, we must consider whether performing circumcision is necessary to conform to cultural and societal beliefs. As healthcare professionals, we must ask ourselves: does it make an individual less attractive if they are not circumcised? Is a circumcised male considered to be more masculine than an individual who is not?

The prevalence of circumcision can also be attributed to the socioeconomic status of the society and parents electing to have the procedure performed on their infant. In the United States, a review conducted on 4.7 million newborn male circumcisions found an increased association with private insurance and higher socioeconomic status. It was also determined that a low prevalence of circumcision was noted within immigrants coming from non-circumcising countries and having a low socioeconomic status (Weiss, et al., 2008). For those individuals falling in the lower socioeconomic bracket, circumcision is not an affordable option.

References:

Circumcision, T. F. (2012, September 01). Male Circumcision. Retrieved November 22, 2017, from http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/130/3/e756

Krill, A. J., Palmer, L. S., & Palmer, J. S. (2011).Complications of Circumcision. The Scientific World Journal, 11, 2458–2468. http://doi.org/10.1100/2011/373829

Weiss, H., Polonsky, J., Bailey, R., Hankins, C., Halperin, D., &Schmid, G. (2008). Male circumcision: global trends and determinants of prevalence, safety, and acceptability. Retrieved fromhttp://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/43749/1/9789241596169_eng.pdf

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