Knowledge on voluntary medical male circumcision in a low uptake setting in northern Uganda

Shifting reasons for older men remaining uncircumcised: Findings from a pre- and post-demand creation intervention among men aged 25-39 years in western Kenya

Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) reduces men's risk of acquiring Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) through vaginal sex. However, VMMC uptake remains lowest among Kenyan men ages 25-39 years among whom the impact on reducing population-level HIV incidence was estimated to be greatest at the start of the study in 2014. We conducted a pre- and post-intervention survey as part of a cluster randomized controlled trial to determine the effect of two interventions (interpersonal communication (IPC) and dedicated service outlets (DSO), delivered individually or together) on improving VMMC uptake among men ages 25-39 years in western Kenya between 2014 and 2016. The study had three intervention arms and a control arm. In arm one, an IPC toolkit was used to address barriers to VMMC. In arm two, men were referred to DSO that were modified to address their preferences. Arm three combined the IPC and DSO. The control arm had standard of care. At baseline, uncircumcised men ranked the top three reasons for remaining uncircumcised. An IPC demand creation toolkit was used to address the identified barriers and men were referred for VMMC at study-designated facilities. At follow-up, those who remained uncircumcised were again asked to rank the top three reasons for not getting circumcised. There was inconsistency in ranking of reported barriers at pre- and post- intervention: 'time/venue not convenient' was ranked third at baseline and seventh at follow-up; 'too busy to go for circumcision' was tenth at baseline but second at follow-up, and concern about 'what I/family will eat' was ranked first at both baseline and follow-up, but the proportion reduced from 62% to 28%. Men ages 25-39 years cited a variety of logistical and psychosocial barriers to receiving VMMC. After exposure to IPC, most of these barriers shifted while some remained the same. Additional innovative interventions to address on-going and shifting barriers may help improve VMMC uptake among older men.

Estimates of the prevalence of male circumcision in sub-Saharan Africa from 2010-2023-A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Male circumcision (MC) is a key part of the package of interventions to prevent HIV, the biggest health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the male circumcision prevalence and to evaluate the progress towards meeting WHO targets in sub-Saharan Africa during the period 2010-2023.

METHODS

We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published during the period 2010-2023. We searched PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane CENTRAL, Google Scholar, WHO and the Demographic and Health Survey for reports on MC prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa. MC prevalence was synthesized using inverse-variance heterogeneity models, heterogeneity using I2 statistics and publication bias using funnel plots.

RESULTS

A total of 53 studies were included. The overall prevalence during the study period was 45.9% (95% CI 32.3-59.8), with a higher MC prevalence in Eastern (69.9%, 95%CI 49.9-86.8) compared to Southern African (33.3%, 95%CI 21.7-46.2). The overall prevalence was higher in urban (45.3%, 95%CI 27.7-63.4) compared to rural settings (42.6%, 95% 26.5-59.5). Male circumcision prevalence increased from 40.2% (95% CI 25.0-56.3) during 2010-2015 to 56.2% (95% CI 31.5-79.5) during 2016-2023. Three countries exceeded 80% MC coverage, namely, Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the current MC prevalence is below 50%, with higher prevalence in Eastern African countries and substantially lower prevalence in Southern Africa. Most of the priority countries need to do more to scale up medical male circumcision programs.

Knowledge, attitudes and acceptance of voluntary medical male circumcision among males attending high school in Shiselweni region, Eswatini: a cross sectional study

BACKGROUND

In countries such as Eswatini, where there is a high HIV prevalence and low male circumcision the World Health Organization and the Joint United Nations Programme for HIV/AIDS recommend infant and adult circumcision be implemented. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and acceptability of voluntary medical male circumcision amongst males attending high school in Eswatini.

METHODS

An observational cross-sectional study was conducted during February and March of 2018 amongst 407 young males (15-21 years) attending Form 4, in nine high schools in the Shiselweni region of Eswatini using a self-administered questionnaire of 42 close ended questions. Sociodemographic details, circumcision status, acceptance of voluntary medical male circumcision, knowledge and attitude scores analysed in Stata® 14 statistical software were described using frequencies, medians and ranges respectively. Bivariate and multivariate linear regression was used to assess the impact of independent variables on circumcision status and acceptance of voluntary medical male circumcision. The level of statistical significance was p < 0.05.

RESULTS

Amongst the 407 high school-going males, 48.98% (n = 201) reported being circumcised. The majority of the adolescents (75.74%; n = 306) were knowledgeable about voluntary medical male circumcision. However, an even larger majority (84.90% (n = 343) had a negative attitude towards it. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, having parented their own children (aOR: 3.55; 95%CI: 1.2-10.48), and having circumcised friends (aOR: 3.99; 95%CI: 1.81-8.84) were significantly associated with being circumcised. Neither knowledge nor attitude were associated with the acceptability of voluntary medical male circumcision.

CONCLUSION

In Eswatini male high school students are knowledgeable about voluntary medical male circumcision but have a negative attitude towards it. Having parented their own children, and having circumcised friends influenced being circumcised.

Factors Associated with Low Uptake of Medical Male Circumcision Among Adolescent Boys in Tanzania: A Multinomial Logistic Regression Modeling

Background

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains the leading cause of years of life lost among adolescent boys in eastern and southern Africa. Medical male circumcision (MMC) is a cost-effective one-time intervention that can reduce the risk of heterosexual HIV acquisition in men by approximately 60%. Despite its importance in HIV prevention, the uptake of MMC remains suboptimal among adolescent boys. This study aimed to identify factors associated with low MMC uptake among adolescent boys in Tanzania.

Methods

This study was a secondary analysis of the 2016-17 Tanzania HIV Impact Survey. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the participants' characteristics. Unadjusted and adjusted multinomial logistic regression models were fitted to identify factors associated with low MMC uptake among adolescent boys.

Results

A total of 2605 older adolescents (15-19 years) and 1296 young adolescents (10-14 years) were analyzed. The MMC uptake rates among older and young adolescents were 56.5% and 45.1%, respectively. Lower MMC uptake was found among respondents in rural areas (adjusted relative risk ratio [aRRR] = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.28-0.57), in the traditionally non-circumcising zone (aRRR = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.23-0.41), participants with no formal education (aRRR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.23-0.41), and those living in lower wealth quintile households (aRRR = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.11-0.36). Respondents who were not covered by health insurance (aRRR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.48-0.94) and those who had no comprehensive HIV knowledge (aRRR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.44-0.70) were also found to have lower uptake of MMC.

Conclusion

To achieve and maintain high MMC coverage, MMC interventions for HIV prevention should focus on uncircumcised adolescent boys who are rural residents, of lower socioeconomic status, and residing in traditionally non-circumcising communities. Furthermore, dissemination of HIV knowledge and increasing health insurance coverage may encourage more adolescent boys to undergo MMC.

Factors Influencing the Uptake of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision Among Boda-Boda Riders Aged 18–49 Years in Hoima, Western Uganda

Introduction

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Barriers, benefits, and behaviour: Voluntary medical male circumcision ideation in a population-based sample of Zambian men

Reaching ambitious voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) coverage targets requires a deeper understanding of the multifaceted processes shaping men's willingness to access VMMC. Guided by the Ideation Model for Health Communication, this population-based study identifies correlates of Zambian men's future VMMC intentions. Multistage cluster sampling was used to identify households with adult men in 14 districts. Multivariable Poisson regression with robust standard errors modelled associations of future VMMC intent with ideational factors (e.g. perceived benefits and barriers) and sexual behaviours respectively. Forty per cent (40%) of uncircumcised men (N = 1 204) expressed future VMMC intentions. In multivariable analysis, VMMC intent was associated with secondary education or higher (Adjusted Prevalence Ratio [APR] 1.30, 95% Confidence Interval [95% CI]: 1.02-1.66), perceiving VMMC to increase sexual satisfaction (APR 1.45, 95% CI: 1.11-1.89), reporting distance to services as a barrier to VMMC uptake (APR = 0.54, 95% CI: 1.27-1.87), unprotected last sex (APR 1.54, 95% CI: 1.11-2.14), and ≥ 2 sexual partners in the past 12 months (APR 1.45, 95% CI: 1.05-1.99). Being aged ≥ 45 years (vs 18-24 years: APR 0.23, 95% CI: 0.13-0.40) and perceiving that circumcision: (1) is unimportant (APR 0.71, 95% CI: 0.51-0.98); (2) is incompatible with local customs (APR 0.41, 95% CI: 0.18-0.94); or (3) reduces sexual satisfaction (APR 0.10, 95% CI: 0.02-0.62) were inversely associated with future VMMC intent. Demand-creation efforts must confront salient cognitive and social barriers to VMMC uptake, including concerns around incompatibility with local customs. Simultaneously, promotional efforts should emphasise relevant VMMC benefits beyond HIV prevention that resonate with men (e.g. penile hygiene) without reinforcing harmful gender norms.

Factors Associated with Low Uptake of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision as HIV-Prevention Strategy among Men Aged 18-49 Years from Nyanza District, Rwanda

Background

Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) is an effective biomedical intervention against HIV in developed and developing countries. However, there is low uptake of VMMC due to various factors, which hinders achievement of health-policy goals to increase uptake. Numerous campaigns offering the procedure free of charge exist in developing countries, but such initiatives seem to bear little fruit in attracting men to these services. This study assessed risk factors associated with the low uptake of VMMC among men in Nyanza district, Southern Province, Rwanda.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among adult males in Nyanza. A total of 438 men participated in individual interviews. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used with 95% confidence intervals and p≤0.05 was taken as statistically significant.

Results

Our results indicated that a low update of VMMC was highly prevalent (35.8%). A majority (84.7%) of participants had heard about VMMC, its complications, advantages in preventiing penile cancer, sexually transmitted infections, and HIV, condom use after circumcision, abstinence for 6 weeks after circumcision, and improving penile hygiene. Religion and education were significant factors in low uptake. Catholics were less likely to undergo VMMC than Muslims (OR 7.19, 95% CI 1.742–29.659; p=0.01). Those of other faiths were less likely to undergo VMMC than Muslims (OR 6.035, 95% CI 1.731–21.039; p=0.005). Participants with secondary education were less likely to undergo VMMC than those with primary education only (OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.74–2.64; p=0.03). Having no formal education decreased the odds of being uncircumcised (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.14–0.977; p=0.045) when compared to those with primary education.

Conclusion

Uptake of VMMC remains low in Nyanza, but most men had sufficient knowledge about it. Education, religion, and marital status were major factors in the low uptake. Programs targeting peer influences and parents need to be prioritized.

VMMC clients' perception of increased risk of HIV infection, circumcision preferred choice of method, providers' socio-demographics and mode of service delivery

Introduction

Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) is a scientifically proven HIV prevention intervention. Uganda, like many countries has been implementing VMMC for over 10 years but uptake is still low especially in northern Uganda. To attain 80% needed for public health impact, scale-up was recommended with many innovations implemented with sub-optimal results. This study therefore wanted to find out some of the correlates of VMMC uptake in Gulu district, northern Uganda.

Methods

Two studies were conducted separately but data was analyzed for this study. For the quantitative study, proportions and frequencies were used to measure perception of increased risk of HIV infection using age, gender, occupation, marital and circumcision status. Qualitative study provided data from FGDs, IDIs and KIIs were first transcribed in Acholi and then translated in English. Transcripts were uploaded in MAXDQA software for data management. A code book for emerging themes was developed.

Results

A total of 548 respondents were interviewed for the quantitative study, where two thirds (66%) of the participants perceived themselves to be at increased risk of HIV infection. For the qualitative study, 149 participants from 19 FGDs, 11 KIIs and 9 IDIs were interviewed. Data were analyzed thematically using both inductive and deductive approaches. Devices were preferred to conventional surgery while mobile services were preferred to static services. However, there were divergent views regarding circumcision service providers' socio-demographics and these were influenced mainly by age, level of education and location.

Conclusion

People in Northern Uganda perceived themselves to be at an increased risk of HIV infection. They preferred devices to conventional surgery, mobile services to static services but had varying views about the socio-demographics of the service providers.

Zulu Men's Conceptions, Understanding, and Experiences of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) is proven to reduce transmission of HIV/AIDS. Despite concerted efforts to scale up VMMC in men aged 18–49, the number of medically circumcised men in this age group remains suboptimal. Research has shown that several individual factors hinder and promote uptake of VMMC. The nature of these factors is not clearly understood within the dimensions of religion, culture and tradition, particularly in a low-income rural setting. This study aimed to analyze Zulu men’s conceptions, understanding and experiences regarding VMMC in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. A qualitative phenomenographic study approach was used to collect data from 20 uncircumcised males at six different clinics that provide VMMC services. Ethical approval to collect data was obtained from the Biomedical Research Ethics Committee of the University of KZN (BREC – BE627/18). Individual in-depth face to face interviews were conducted using a semistructured interview guide. Audiotapes were used to record interviews which were transcribed verbatim and then analyzed manually. The conceptions regarding medical circumcision appeared to be related to religious and cultural beliefs surrounding circumcision and the historical traditional practice thereof. The understanding of males regarding VMMC was mainly attributed to HIV prevention; however, knowledge on the degree of partial protection appeared to be limited. An array of negative accounted in the form of complications such as poor wound healing and postoperative pain undergone by peers and other close influencers’ accounted for participants’ experiences of VMMC. Poor knowledge and negative experiences relating to VMMC could account for reasons why men choose not to undergo VMMC.

Enhancers and barriers to uptake of male circumcision services in Northern Uganda: a qualitative study

Uganda adopted voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) in 2010, but uptake remains disproportionately low in the Northern region despite implementing several demand creation strategies. This study explored the socio-cultural and structural enhancers and barriers to uptake of VMMC services in Gulu, a district in Northern Uganda where uptake is lowest. In September 2016, we conducted 19 focus group discussions, 9 in-depth interviews, and 11 key informant interviews with 149 total participants. Data were collected and analyzed thematically using both inductive and deductive approaches, then framed in four levels of the social ecological model. Enhancers included adequate knowledge about VMMC services, being young and single, partner involvement, peer influence, perceived increased libido after circumcision, and availability of free and high-quality VMMC services. Barriers included sexual abstinence during wound healing, penile appearance after circumcision, religion, culture, and misconceptions. Optimizing enhancers and addressing barriers could increase VMMC service uptake in northern Uganda.