Circumcision in Australia: further evidence on its effects on sexual health and wellbeing

Ferris, Jason A., Richters, Juliet, Pitts, Marian K., Shelley, Julia M., Simpson, Judy M., Ryall, Richard and Smith, Anthony M. A. (2010) Circumcision in Australia: further evidence on its effects on sexual health and wellbeing. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 34 2: 160-164.


Author Ferris, Jason A.
Richters, Juliet
Pitts, Marian K.
Shelley, Julia M.
Simpson, Judy M.
Ryall, Richard
Smith, Anthony M. A.
Title Circumcision in Australia: further evidence on its effects on sexual health and wellbeing
Journal name Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank B)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2010-04
Sub-type Article
DOI 10.1111/j.1753-6405.2010.00501.x
Volume number 34
Issue number 2
ISSN 1326-0200
1753-6405
Start page 160
End page 164
Total pages 5
Place of publication Richmond, Vic., Australia
Publisher Wiley-Blackwell Publishing
Language eng
Formatted abstract Objective: To report on the prevalence and demographic variation in circumcision in Australia and examine sexual health outcomes in comparison with earlier research.
Methods: A representative household sample of 4,290 Australian men aged 16–64 years completed a computer-assisted telephone interview including questions on circumcision status, demographic variables, reported lifetime experience of selected sexually transmissible infections (STIs), experience of sexual difficulties in the previous 12 months, masturbation, and sexual practices at last heterosexual encounter.
Results: More than half the men (58%) were circumcised. Circumcision was less common (33%) among men under 30 and more common (66%) among those born in Australia. After adjustment for age and number of partners, circumcision was unrelated to STI history except for non-specific urethritis (higher among circumcised men, OR=2.11, p<0.001) and penile candidiasis (lower among circumcised men, OR=0.49, p<0.001).
Circumcision was unrelated to any of the sexual difficulties we asked about (after adjusting for age) except that circumcised men were somewhat less likely to have worried during sex about whether their bodies looked unattractive (OR=0.77, p=0.04). No association between lack of circumcision and erection difficulties was detected. After correction for age, circumcised men were somewhat more likely to have masturbated alone in the previous 12 months (OR=1.20, p=0.02).
Conclusions: Circumcision appears to have minimal protective effects on sexual health in Australia.
Keyword Circumcision
Male
Australia
Sexually transmitted diseases
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Provisional Code
Institutional Status Non-UQ

Document type: Journal Article
Sub-type: Article
Collection: Institute for Social Science Research - Publications
 
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