Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of General Practitioners on Circumcision and Its Complications in the District Hospitals of the Center Region

Abstract

Background: The complication rate of circumcision in medical settings is between 0.4% and 2.0%. Circumcision accidents constituted 2.0% of urological emergencies at the Yaoundé Central Hospital. Aim: To assess the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices of general practitioners on circumcision and its complications in Central Region District Hospitals. Population and Methods: We conducted a multicenter descriptive cross-sectional study the CAP (Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices) type. Which took place from March 9 to June 30, 2021 (16 weeks). We included 138 physicians. The variables collected were: socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge about circumcision and its complications, attitudes towards circumcision and its complications, practices towards circumcision and its complications. Results: In our study, the median age of the study population was 29 years, the sex ratio (M/F) was 0.8. The median ideal age to perform circumcision was 12 months. In our study, 94.9% of general practitioners clearly identified bleeding disorders as a contraindication for circumcision. The material needed to be used to perform a circumcision was ignored by 81.2% of general practitioners. The global knowledge assessment showed that 68.9% of participants had unsatisfactory knowledge about circumcision and its complications. Before circumcision, 91.3% general practitioners first recommended effective disinfection of the operating field, and 83.3% used sterile equipment. Faced with a hemorrhage, 61.6% of general practitioners proposed surgical exploration in the face of rebellious bleeding. 60.2% of general practitioners had bad attitudes towards circumcision and its complications. In our study, 49.2% of the general practitioners questioned did not know the normal procedure for performing a circumcision. Forty-one (29.7%) general practitioners had never performed a circumcision. The median occurrence of a complication during circumcision was 2 times. Bleeding was the most common early postoperative complication (89.2%) in general practitioner practice during circumcision. Conclusion: The majority of general practitioners have not received formal education on circumcision.