Page 103 - SAHCS HIVMed Journal Vol 20 No 1 2019

Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine
ISSN: (Online) 2078-6751, (Print) 1608-9693
Page 1 of 9 Original Research

Knowledge about male circumcision and perception of

risk for HIV among youth in Harare, Zimbabwe

Authors: Background: Male circumcision will require high uptake among previously non-circumcising
Kudzaishe Mangombe countries to realise the impact of circumcising in preventing HIV. Little is known about
1
Ishmael Kalule-Sabiti 2
whether youths are knowledgeable about male circumcision and its relationship with HIV
Affiliations: prevention and their perception of risk of HIV infection.
1 Department of Sociology
and Social Anthropology, Objective: This article aimed to ascertain youth’s knowledge about male circumcision and
Faculty of Social Sciences, perception of risk of HIV infection.
Great Zimbabwe University,
Masvingo, Zimbabwe Methods: A quantitative study on 784 youth (men aged 15–35 years) was conducted in Harare,
Zimbabwe, after obtaining their consent. Multivariate analysis examined the associations
2 Department of Population between background characteristics and knowledge about male circumcision and the
Studies and Demography,
Faculty of Humanities, perception of risk of HIV infection.
North-West University,
Mmabatho, South Africa Results: The results revealed that age was a significant predictor of knowledge about male
circumcision among youth in Harare, as was educational attainment and ever having tested
Corresponding author: for HIV. In addition, youth who had heard of voluntary medical male circumcision were more
Kudzaishe Mangombe, likely to have high knowledge of male circumcision compared to those who had never heard
[email protected]
of it. The results also showed that male circumcision status was associated with higher
Dates: knowledge about male circumcision compared to those who were not circumcised. The study
Received: 17 Apr. 2018 also found that educational attainment, belonging to the Shona ethnic group, never having
Accepted: 05 Feb. 2019 tested for HIV and disapproval of voluntary counselling and testing prior to male circumcision
Published: 30 Apr. 2019
were associated with the perception of risk of HIV infection.
How to cite this article:
Mangombe K, Kalule-Sabiti I. Conclusion: The study provides two recommendations: the need to strengthen perceived
Knowledge about male susceptibility to HIV among the youth and the need for advocacy on the health benefits of
circumcision and perception male circumcision.
of risk for HIV among youth
in Harare, Zimbabwe. S Afr Keywords: Knowledge about male circumcision; Perception of risk to HIV; Youth; Zimbabwe;
J HIV Med. 2019;20(1), a855. Voluntary medical male circumcision; Voluntary HIV counselling.
https://doi.org/10.4102/
sajhivmed.v20i1.855
Copyright: Introduction
© 2019. The Authors.
Licensee: AOSIS. This work The aim of the study was to identify the sociodemographic factors associated with knowledge
is licensed under the about male circumcision and the perception of risk of HIV infection among youth in Harare,
Creative Commons Zimbabwe. Male circumcision as a subject is at the helm of HIV prevention. The eastern and
Attribution License.
southern Africa regions are most affected by HIV, with the number of people on treatment more
than doubling since 2010, reaching nearly 10.3 million people, resulting in HIV- and AIDS-related
deaths in the region decreasing by 36% since 2010. According to UNAIDS, the region has also
1
witnessed the largest reduction in new adult HIV infections. There were about 40 000 fewer new
adult HIV infections in the region in 2015 than in 2010, a 4% decline. 1

Although strides have been made concerning improved sexual behaviour in most countries, some
countries in sub-Saharan Africa have detected low condom use and an increase in the number of
2
sexual partners in their surveys. Recent reports show that sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
are increasing among certain population groups, including urban youth in Harare. Considering
3
the higher levels of STIs among the urban youth, there is need to focus attention on knowledge
about male circumcision and the perception of risk of HIV infection research in urban areas as a
way to curb further HIV and sexually transmitted infections. Both observational and ecological
Read online: studies have shown that male circumcision reduces female-to-male HIV transmission, 4,5,6 and
Read online:
Scan this QR 7,8,9
Scan this QR
code with your three randomised controlled trials have shown that male circumcision has the potential to
code with your
smart phone or
smart phone or significantly alter the HIV epidemic in countries with high HIV prevalence and low circumcision
mobile device
mobile device
to read online. rates. Thus, in sub-Saharan Africa, there is currently a push for male circumcision to reduce the
to read online.
risk of HIV infection in previously non-circumcising communities.
http://www.sajhivmed.org.za 96 Open Access