Prevalence of circumcision

The prevalence of circumcision refers to the proportion of males within a specific population who have undergone Circumcision, a surgical procedure typically performed shortly after birth or during adolescence, removing the foreskin from the human penis. This prevalence is largely influenced by cultural, religious, and healthcare perspectives and varies considerably across countries.

Global Circumcision Rates

The rates of circumcision differ widely depending on the region. In certain countries such as Honduras and Japan, the prevalence is almost negligible at 0%. In Spain, it's relatively low, at 6.6%, and slightly higher in the United Kingdom, at 20.7%. Countries like South Africa and the United States have higher rates, 45% and 75% respectively. The highest rates are found in Israel and several Muslim-majority countries, where over 90% of males are circumcised, owing to religious and cultural practices.

According to a 2010 estimate by the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 30% of adult males worldwide (aged 15 or older) are circumcised. Among these, about two-thirds are Muslims.

Factors Influencing Circumcision Rates

Circumcision rates are primarily influenced by religious, cultural, and societal norms. In Jewish and Islamic cultures, circumcision is a religious rite. In certain Western countries, particularly the United States, circumcision is often performed for health reasons, including a reduced risk of urinary tract infections and sexually transmitted diseases.

Socioeconomic factors and access to healthcare services also play a significant role in determining circumcision rates. In certain regions of Sub-Saharan Africa, circumcision programs have been implemented as part of the strategy to reduce the spread of HIV.

Health Implications

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) state that male circumcision is an effective intervention for HIV prevention. However, they emphasize that it should be carried out by well-trained medical professionals and under conditions of informed consent.

See Also

• Circumcision
• History of male circumcision
• Ethics of circumcision

References

Prevalence of circumcision Resources
Need Help Finding a Doctor? Need help finding a doctor or specialist anywhere in the world? Explore our world directory. WikiMD's DocFinder can assist you in locating millions of physicians.	Medical Knowledge Access the latest research - Most recent articles Ongoing trials.

Translate to: East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski