Knowledge, attitudes and practices of male circumcision as an HIV prevention method among males in a Mine, Geita, Tanzania

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: HIV and AIDS remains the most important public health problem in Tanzania. Male Circumcision (MC) has been hailed as an effective intervention for the prevention of HIV-1 among heterosexual transmission. There is convincing evidence that MC has a positive effect on the control of HIV infection. As a result, this procedure has been widely promoted as a preventive effort that might have a significant decrease in the rate of HIV transmission. This study aimed to establish the knowledge, attitudes and practices of MC as an HIV prevention strategy among males in Geita Gold Mine (GGM), Geita, Tanzania.Random sampling was used to select participants (n=164) who worked at GGM. Respondents were asked to complete a standardised self-reported questionnaire. In total, 95 participants (57.9%) were circumcised while 69 (42.1%) were not circumcised. The acceptability of MC among uncircumcised males was high (95.6%). Reasons for this desire included prevention of STIs/HIV, promoting hygiene and for religious and cultural grounds. Overall, the majority of the respondents were knowledgeable about the health benefits of MC. Nearly all respondents (89.6%) expressed willingness to circumcise a male child.This study provided baseline information with regards to male circumcision among GGM employees. Though data reveals that respondents were aware of the health benefits of MC, results indicated that there is need to further impact this knowledge and promote the adoption of the practice among uncircumcised individuals/communities on a larger scale. It was recommended that the mine, through its HIV/AIDS programme, should promote MC awareness and recommend appropriate channels for access to MC for its employees.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University