SOCIAL AND MEDICAL ASPECTS OF UNDESCENDED TESTES IN TURKEY

In this study, 6,381 primary school boys were examined in Turkey in th e years 1990 and 1991 and families and medical personnel were question ed about the information they had on undescended testes and their beha vior regarding this matter was noted. Undescended testes were found in 91/6,381 pupils (1.43%) Forty-six families (58.7%) were aware of the abnormality. In 36 of these 46 cases (78%), the mother was the first w ho noticed the problem. Only 3 cases were first diagnosed by medical s taff(nurses or doctors). Eighteen cases were diagnosed under 2 years o f age, but apparently they had not been managed correctly because of i gnorance regarding possible complications. Of the 46 families, who wer e aware of the problem, only 29 (63%) had seen a physician. In other w ords, only 31% (29/91) of the boys with undescended testes received me dical help. This study has shown that no genital organ examination of the newborn is performed after most deliveries and there is a consider able unawareness of undescended testes both by the families and by med ical personnel.