KNOWLEDGE OF PARTICIPANTS ABOUT VOLUNTARY MEDICAL MALE CIRCUMCISION AMONG MEN ATTENDING NAKIVALE HC III ISINGIRO. A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background:

Male circumcision should be delivered as part of a minimum package that includes information about risks and benefits, counseling on safer sexual practices, access to HIV testing services and condoms, and management of sexually transmitted infections. The study aims to assess the knowledge of participants about voluntary medical male circumcision.

Methodology:

A cross-sectional study employing quantitative measures. The study involved adult males who attend healthcare services at Nakivale Health Center III in the age bracket of 15 to 50 years. The data was exported to the IBM statistical package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 software for analysis. Data was analyzed using percentages and frequencies for univariate and Chi-square for bivariate analysis.

Results:

The majority of the participants had attained a primary level of education (42.2%) and the least had tertiary education 13(9.4%). 44(31.9%) of the participants were aware of age to be circumcised 89(64.5%). 74(53.6%) participants mentioned that voluntary Medical Male Circumcision services reduce sexual pleasure. 67(48.6%) of the participants indicated that a health facility is the safest place with VMMC services. 67(48.6%) mentioned keeping the hygiene benefits of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision. (32.6%) expected duration a male who underwent Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision takes to heal is between 4 to 6 weeks. 78(56.6%) indicated that the Age for a male to be circumcised is childhood and early adulthood.

Conclusion:

Knowledge about the right age of circumcision, the right hygiene measure, and the expected duration of healing significantly influenced the uptake of voluntary medical male circumcision among men attending Nakivale HC III Isingiro.

Recommendations:

Delivery of comprehensive Knowledge about safe male circumcision should be rolled out to the different community stakeholders including local leaders and village health team participation.