Hygienic Care in Uncircumcised Infants

A written questionnaire was used to determine the advice pediatricians give concerning hygienic care of uncircumcised infants. A telephone survey was conducted in which new mothers were asked what they had been told about genital hygiene and how they were caring for their infants. Pediatricians' advice concerning hygiene in uncircumcised infants varied greatly. Most counseled mothers to retract the foreskin and clean the child, but few (22%) knew when this could be readily accomplished. None of the mothers of uncircumcised children had been told when the foreskin could be expected to retract, and only half had been given any advice concerning hygiene. Mothers of infants whose foreskins had been manipulated by physicians felt this practice was traumatic. Both this and the stress of caring for their infants without adequate instruction caused 40% of the mothers to state they would choose to have the next child circumcised. Recommendations for hygienic care of uncircumcised infants are given.