Knowledge and Practices of Male Circumcision as an HIV/AIDS Prevention Measure among Males in Mbarara Municipality
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Date
2018-09-25
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Int J AIDS Res
Abstract
Since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1980’s, more than 60 million people have acquired the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and AIDS related illnesses have claimed nearly 20 million lives worldwide. The landmark randomized
clinical trials (RCT) conducted in Orange Farm in South Africa, Rakai district in Uganda, Kisumu province in Kenya (demonstrated a reduction in HIV incidence among circumcised men. Uganda incorporated Medical Male Circumcision into the
HIV prevention package in 2009 to enable improved provision of MC services in Uganda. This study mainly assessed the
knowledge, attitudes and practices of Male Circumcision as an HIV/AIDS prevention measure among males in Mbarara
Municipality.
This cross-sectional study was conducted in July 2017 among 150 males aged between 18-49 years at Kamukuzi, Kakoba
and Nyamitanga health centers in Mbarara municipality in Uganda.
The study found that 58% of the respondents were circumcised. Respondents reported good knowledge on the benefits of
male circumcision on HIV infection. For example, 86% of the respondents revealed that Circumcision of an HIV negative
man reduces HIV risk. Majority of the respondents had positive attitudes towards male circumcision which could possibly
explain the high prevalence of circumcision (58%). In fact, 43.3% and 70.7% revealed that circumcised men enjoy sex more
than uncircumcised men and would recommend MC to their sons respectively.
From this study, a high level of knowledge was found, particularly its potential to reduce the risk of HIV infection. Similarly,
the respondents had good attitudes towards Male circumcision. Male Circirmcision is accepted on a large scale by males
in Mbarara municipality as an HIV prevention strategy considering that this is not a traditionally circumcising community
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Moses, A., Patience, K., & Christopher, K. (2018). Knowledge and practices of male circumcision as an HIV/AIDS prevention measure among males in Mbarara municipality. Int J AIDS Res, 5(2), 168-176.