Page 194 - SAHCS HIVMed Journal Vol 20 No 1 2019

Page 4 of 6 Original Research

Benefits of male circumcision the magazines that it helps people in HIV prevention but am not
sure in the technical details … (Participant 1, male, in a
We explored whether participants knew MC as an HIV relationship)
prevention strategy. Responses to this question were
spontaneous as we wanted to find how HIV prevention Two, however, revealed that MC protects against sexually
ranked among the benefits of MC. Participants gave various transmitted infections (STIs) but could not mention which:
benefits of MC and HIV prevention ranked third.
‘… really, to me, well I feel, it helps to prevent some sexually
transmitted diseases … all the sexually transmitted diseases.
Male circumcision for cultural purposes Most of them, you can name them …’ (Participant 7, male,
married)
Culture has been suggested in various studies as both the
determinant and predictor of MC. From spontaneous So based on this study, it was clear that the level of knowledge
responses, culture was viewed as the major benefit of about MC as an HIV prevention strategy was low, with
MC. Out of 10 respondents, six mentioned culture as cultural and religious factors taking precedence over HIV
the reason for MC and that the procedure helped fulfil prevention.
cultural obligations and fitted in with the accepted cultural
practices:
Social factors besides HIV prevention
… Firstly, some cultures tend to practice that. When a child is
born if he is male, at a certain age he has to get circumcised. It is In this study, participants revealed that MC had a social
a way of passing from being a boy into manhood … importance. Three participants mentioned that MC can help
(Key Informant 3, male, married) a person fit in his society or peer group:
… this is my understanding. Perhaps if you are not circumcised, … Hmm social aspect, I think as with most things really, many
how do you say you are a man because for us we believe that to people are taking decisions based on the society. I think if you
be a man fully, you have to undergo a knife … (Key Informant 5, look at an individual, one is defined by where they belong to a
male, married) group of people who uphold circumcision then you may want to
get circumcised … (Participant 3, male, married)
… well in South Africa boys in certain tribes especially in the
Eastern Cape, are expected to go through an initiation into The issue of social benefits was also echoed by other
manhood and this initiation starts with circumcision because participants, showing that it was an important determinant
they believe that the foreskin is a feminine part of the body and
so this is removed … (Key Informant 8, male, single) of MC decisions:
… I think it is accepted in society, you know. In society, if you are
For most of the participants, circumcision is one way a boy not circumcised, you cannot really fit in. you know, discriminating
can transit from childhood to adulthood. Fulfilling cultural and all that … (Participant 7, male, married)
obligations seemed to be the major benefit provided by MC. … yes, but it is not something done because of medical reasons.
Much as it is not done for those reasons, in the long run it will
Perceptions towards male circumcision help protect an individual from acquiring STIs. It is quite
beneficial if it is medical male circumcision … (Participant 2,
Although MC or MCC as an HIV prevention strategy was male, married)
the core of this study, this aspect was third in importance
in the view of respondents and was mentioned by only Therefore, based on such views, the decision to undergo MC
four subjects. However, only one gave this as of first or MCC or not can be a social decision, not necessarily to
importance. Another mentioned it as of second importance prevent HIV.
after culture, and two placed it fourth after culture, religion
and hygiene: Sexual satisfaction
… if you remove the foreskin you also protect yourself from Furthermore, one participant linked MC to sexual satisfaction
STIs and in the same manner I think circumcision helps HIV revealing that being circumcised gave one increased sexual
prevention. It is not 100% to my understanding but it’s to quite pleasure:
a good degree, it helps people from contracting HIV …
(Participant 2, male, married) … you really get the feeling of, I wouldn’t call it satisfaction but
when you are into sex … in my own view, it is true. … I mean
during sexual intercourse. A man can run for longer hours which
The above participant was the only one who mentioned HIV
prevention as the first benefit with some level of certainty. In is advantageous to the women because they enjoy it more …
(Participant 5, male, married)
some cases, participants were aware that MC or MCC protects
against HIV, but were not sure whether it was true as revealed Five participants revealed that they were aware that MC or
below:
MMC prevents HIV, but were not sure of how this was
… Am also told that one is that in the HIV perspective. I don’t possible:
know how true it is … (Participant 4, male, single)
… I understand because I read a lot. I understand that there is a
… I have heard that it helps in HIV/AIDS prevention and other link between and it is being practiced in Uganda where they are
people do it for religious beliefs, I think … I just read it in one of encouraging most people to get circumcised as a prevention of

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