Prevalence of circumcision

Not to be confused with prevalence of female circumcision.

Map of circumcision prevalence, based on a 2007 WHO report
  Widespread, near-universal: >80% prevalence
  Widespread, common: 20–80% prevalence
  Uncommon: <20% prevalence
  N/A

The prevalence of circumcision is the percentage of males in a given population who have been circumcised, with the procedure most commonly being performed as a part of preventive healthcare, a religious obligation, or cultural practice.

Since 2010, both the World Health Organization and Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS have been promoting a higher rate of circumcision prevalence as a prevention against HIV transmission and some STIs in areas with high HIV transmission and low circumcision rates.[1][2][3][4] According to Hay & Levin, 2012, around 50% of all circumcisions worldwide are performed for reasons of preventive healthcare, while the other 50% are predominately performed for religious or cultural reasons.[5]

  1. ^ Staff. "Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)". World Health Organization. Archived from the original on 11 June 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  2. ^ Leach P (2010). The Essential First Year. Dorling Kindersley Limited. p. 30. ISBN 978-0-7566-6331-5.
  3. ^ Perry S, Hockenberry M, Cashion M, Rhodes Alden K, Olshansky E, Leonard Lowdermilk D (2022). "Nursing Care of the Newborn and Family". Maternal child nursing care (7th ed.). St. Louis: Elsevier Health Sciences. ISBN 978-0-323-82587-0. The World Health Organization recognizes male circumcision as an important intervention in reducing the risk of heterosexually acquired HIV in men.
  4. ^ Manual for early infant male circumcision under local anaesthesia (PDF). Geneva: World Health Organization. 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 April 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  5. ^ Hay W, Levin M (25 June 2012). Current Diagnosis and Treatment Pediatrics 21/E. McGraw Hill Professional. pp. 18–19. ISBN 978-0-07-177971-5. Archived from the original on 18 January 2016.