Muslim mothers mainly saw circumcision in terms of religion or tradition but wanted it to be carried out medical professionals

Aim This study assessed the relationship between the education level of Muslim Turkish mothers whose sons had been circumcised and their views on circumcision. Methods Interviews based on 20 close-ended questions were carried out in the cukurova region of southern Turkey between June 2015 and September 2016. The participants were 1497 Muslim Turkish mothers whose sons had been circumcised and who were recruited using convenience sampling in schools, hospitals and public spaces. Results Most (82%) of the mothers saw circumcision as a religious and traditional requirement, 64% mentioned the health benefits and 48% mentioned cosmetic appearance. The majority (80%) were performed by health organisations, with two-thirds (66%) expressing this preference. Most circumcisions were at school age (38%), which was about 6 years of age plus at the time of the study, and there were no complications in 79% of cases. Higher education levels were associated with views that circumcision was an important surgical procedure, it decreased the risk of urinary tract infections, it should be performed in hospitals and the foreskin did not prevent sexual intercourse. Conclusion Circumcision was mainly seen as a religious and traditional ritual, and more highly educated Turkish Muslim mothers were better informed about the health aspects.