Newborn Circumcision Rates Fall To 49% Despite Medical Recommendations

Male newborn circumcision rates dropped from 54.1% in 2012 to 49.3% in 2022, according to Johns Hopkins University researchers who analyzed over 1.5 million hospital records. The decline occurred despite endorsements from the World Health Organization, American Academy of Pediatrics, and CDC citing health benefits. White families showed the steepest decrease, with rates falling from 65.3% to 60.0%, while Black families maintained steady rates around 66% and Hispanic families remained at 21%. Regional gaps persisted, with Midwest hospitals reporting 68.5% in 2022 compared to just 19.7% in Western facilities. Wealthier families and those with private insurance had higher baseline rates but experienced the largest declines. (Story URL)