Social impact of delayed male circumcision in a gro up of hemophiliacs’ patients from Sudan

Abstract

Haemophilia is the most common hereditary disorder of blood coagulation; there are two types, according to the factor deficient, haemophilia A in which there is factor VIII deficie ncy and haemophilia B with factor IX deficiency; and known as Christmas d isease. In addition to life-long bleeding and other complications, a large number of haemophilics endure other sufferings. Social stigmatization, dru g addiction, neglect, dropping out of school, loss of the father, these a re only some of their problems. This prospective study was carried out on haemophilic patients who present themselves for circumcision, usually pa st the time for this procedure as compared to their peers. The studied a imed to critically assess and address the social problems that arise f rom delayed circumcision in male haemophilics in the Sudan. The study also assessed effect of circumcision on the problems of the indiv iduals. The guardians/patients were enlightened about their dis ease and the surgical operation that was going to be performed. Following informed consent by guardians of the children or the children themselve s if they are older than 18 years of age, a pre-designed questionnaire was f illed by interviewers. In addition to demographic data, the questionnaire als o contained detailed medical and treatment histories. The surgical opera tion was performed under factor concentrate cover according to the Sud anese National Haempphilia protocol and using cautery knife to min imize the chance of post-operative bleeding. 87 patients with haemophil ia were enrolled in the study, 82 with haemophilia A and 5 with haemophilia B. The mean age of 12.8±5.6 year. The post-operative period went smoot hly, apart from manageable breakthrough bleeding in three patients. All haemophiliacs and their families consider that circumcision is a very important and as a mandatory procedure.