Page 105 - SAHCS HIVMed Journal Vol 20 No 1 2019

Page 3 of 9 Original Research

Results table that more than 9 in 10 respondents (94.1%) knew that

Demographic characteristics of respondents it is recommended that a circumcised man still use a
condom. Moreover, 7.4% of the respondents knew that male
Table 1 presents the frequency distribution of background circumcision should be integrated with other HIV prevention
characteristics of the respondents. Almost equal proportions methods. About 8 in 10 (81.4%) of the respondents indicated
were distributed in the four age groups. The highest that an HIV-negative woman can contract HIV after
proportion of the respondents had never been married (63%), having unprotected sex with an HIV-positive uncircumcised
had achieved secondary education (78.8%), were employed man. Reversing the question, about the same percentage
(56%) and had ever been tested for HIV (65.3%); 90.6% of the (83.7%) indicated that an HIV-negative circumcised man
respondents were of the Shona ethnic group, and most of could contract HIV after having unprotected sex with an
them were not circumcised (84.9%). In addition, 33.8% of the HIV-positive woman.
respondents were mainline Christians, 78.2% did not approve
of HIV testing prior to circumcision, and almost all (96.8%) A little more than 8 in 10 (82.2%) of the respondents indicated
had ever heard VMMC. that male circumcision was not as good as an invisible
condom. On the other hand, 82.7% indicated that male
Table 2 presents the frequency distribution of the respondents’ circumcision reduces the chances of HIV transmission. With
knowledge about male circumcision. It is evident from the regards to male circumcision reducing penile cancer, 53.2%
indicated that male circumcision reduces penile cancer. More
TABLE 1: Background characteristics of the study respondents (n = 784). than 9 in 10 (92.7%) indicated that male circumcision improves
Variable Frequency Percentage penile hygiene, and about the same proportion (92.6%)
Age group indicated that male circumcision alone can prevent HIV
15–19 182 23.2 infection. Fewer than half (46.8%) of the respondents were
20–24 229 29.2
25–29 192 24.5 aware that it was recommended that circumcised men abstain
30–35 181 23.1 from sexual intercourse for a minimum period of 6 weeks
Marital status following circumcision. More than two-thirds (66.5%) of the
Married or living together 263 33.5 respondents were able to define male circumcision.
Formerly married 26 3.4
Never married 495 63.1 Table 3 shows the bivariate relationship between the
Education background characteristics and knowledge about male
Primary 37 4.7 circumcision. The results showed that there was a significant
Secondary 617 78.8
Higher 129 16.5 association between age and knowledge about male
Wealth status circumcision. Knowledge about male circumcision increased
Low 276 35.2 with age. A higher percentage of respondents who were aged
Medium 248 31.6 30–35 years had high knowledge about male circumcision
High 260 33.2 (88.4%) compared to those who were aged 25–29, 20–24 and
Employment status 15–19 (80.2%, 79.9% and 71.4%, respectively; p < 0.001). A
Employed 439 56.0 higher proportion of respondents who had attained a higher
Unemployed 345 44.0 level of education had high knowledge about male circumcision
Religion (93.8%) compared to those who had attained primary and
Mainline 265 33.8
Pentecostal 193 24.6 secondary education (77.7% and 70.3%, respectively; p < 0.000).
Apostolic sect 169 21.6
Other Christian 83 10.6 High knowledge about male circumcision was more common
No religion 74 9.4 in respondents in the high wealth status group (83.8%)
Ethnic group
Shona 710 90.6 TABLE 2: Proportion of respondents who answered correctly to the knowledge
Ndebele 23 9.4 questions about circumcision (n = 784).
Ever tested for HIV Variable Yes Percentage
Yes 512 65.3 Is male circumcision a surgical removal of the end of the 521 66.5
No 272 34.7 foreskin of the penis?
Approval of VCT prior to MC Is circumcision as good as an ‘invisible condom’ in preventing 648 82.2
HIV transmission?
Yes 171 21.8 Does male circumcision reduce the chances of transmitting HIV? 668 85.2
No 613 78.2 Does male circumcision reduce penile cancer? 417 53.2
Ever heard of VMMC Are circumcised men still recommended to use condoms? 738 94.1
Yes 759 96.8 Does male circumcision improve penile hygiene? 727 7.4
No 25 3.2 Can male circumcision alone prevent HIV contraction? 726 92.6
Circumcision status Can an HIV-negative woman contract HIV or STI after having 638 81.4
Yes 118 15.1 unprotected sex with an HIV-positive circumcised man?
No 666 84.9 Can an HIV-negative circumcised man contract HIV or STI 656 83.7
Total 784 100.00 after having unprotected sex with an HIV-positive woman?
VCT, voluntary counselling and testing; MC, male circumcision; VMMC, voluntary medical After being circumcised must a man abstain from sexual 367 46.8
male circumcision. intercourse for six weeks?

http://www.sajhivmed.org.za 98 Open Access