Absence Of Medicaid Coverage Impacts Neonatal Male Circumcision Rates

Main Category: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Also Included In: Urology / Nephrology;  Men's health;  Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 17 Nov 2008 - 0:00 PST

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Lack of Medicaid coverage for neonatal male circumcision correlated with lower rates of circumcision, a new study found. In light of recent clinical trials in Africa that suggest uncircumcised males may face greater risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, lack of Medicaid coverage for circumcision may translate into future health disparities for children born to poor families covered by Medicaid.

Data were pulled from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, with a sample size of 417,282 male newborns. The average neonatal circumcision rate across the 683 hospitals in the sample was 55.9 percent. Circumcision rates were 24% higher in states whose Medicaid programs cover the procedure than in those that do not. The study's authors emphasize, however, "The African results relate to transmission from female sexual partners to uninfected men. However, in the United States, only 16 percent of all AIDS cases among men are linked to heterosexual transmission, whereas 18 percent are linked exclusively to drug use, and 65 percent are linked to male-to-male sexual contact."

"Male Circumcision in the United States: Determinants and Policy implications."
Arleen Leibowitz et al.
American Journal of Public Health

The American Journal of Public Health is the monthly Journal of the American Public Health Association (APHA), the oldest and most diverse organization of public health professionals in the world. APHA is a leading publisher of books and periodicals promoting sound scientific standards, action programs and public policy to enhance health. More information is available at www.apha.org.

American Public Health Association
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