title: Knowledge, attitude and behaviour of boys and parents about circumcision.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of parents and previously circumcised early adolescent boys about circumcision.
  
  
  METHODS
  Half of the boys attending the sixth class of the primary school in our city centre and their parents were included in this cross-sectional, descriptive study. Questionnaires were prepared by the authors, which include 38 questions for parents and 25 questions for boys.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-six per cent of the students were circumcised at the age of 7 years and above, 26% between three and 6 years and 8% below 3 years of age. Forty-two per cent of boys were circumcised by a traditional circumciser and 64% were circumcised at home. Main reasons of circumcision for parents were religious purposes (79%) and health issues (51%). When the boys were asked about their thoughts during circumcision, they mostly stated that 'it was necessary to become a man' (58%) and 'it would hurt much' (50%). Thirty-eight per cent of boys were frightened during circumcision and 46% were worried. Boys circumcised in the 7 years and above age group were most content about their age of circumcision.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We consider that it is reasonable to wait up to an age at which the child could understand and participate in the decision of the concept and timing of circumcision.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey. ncorduk@pau.edu.tr
authors.forename: Nergul
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Corduk
authors.forename: Gulsen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Unlu
authors.forename: Akile
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sarioglu-Buke
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buber
authors.forename: Bircan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Savran
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zencir
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002944:Circumcision, Male / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007514:Islam; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D014421:Turkey
keywords: Attitude; Behaviour; Circumcision; Knowledge