Perspectives of Women About Pain in Neonatal Male Circumcision in Selected Rural Communities in Anambra State Southeastern Nigeria

Abstract

This descriptive cross sectional study investigated mothers' perceptions about neonatal male circumcision pain using researcher-developed instruments. The data obtained from 184 nursing mothers of neonates show that although 86.93% subjects rated male neonatal circumcision pain as moderate to very severe, the procedure is performed (95.1%) without pain relief given, during or after. The pain caused discomforts for all family members. Babies were pacified with breast milk, touch, or other methods learnt from older women. Of the health care practitioners performing the procedure in the communities studied, 82.5% were nurses and midwives. Neonatal circumcision pain is accepted as a norm by this cohort and their care providers and not recognized as a condition to be preempted or relieved by any means pharmacological, which is substandard care. Pain relief is a client right. This finding calls for further research and professional review of health care providers' perspectives and capacity for circumcision pain management.