posted on 2012-03-01, 00:00authored byAmy Herman-Roloff, Nixon Otieno, Kawango Agot, Jeckoniah Ndinya-Achola, Robert C. Bailey
Background
Numerous studies have demonstrated that male circumcision (MC) reduces the incidence of the Type-1 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among heterosexual men by at least half.
Methods
One year after the launch of a national Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision program in Kenya, this study conducted 12 focus group discussions among uncircumcised men in Nyanza Province to assess the revealed, non-hypothetical, facilitators and barriers to the uptake of MC.
Results
The primary barriers to MC uptake included time away from work; culture and religion; possible adverse events; and the post-surgical abstinence period. The primary facilitators of MC uptake included hygiene; social pressure; protection against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections; and improved sexual performance and satisfaction.
Conclusions
Some activities which might increase MC uptake include dispelling MC misconceptions; increasing involvement of religious leaders, women's groups, and peer mobilizers for MC promotion; and increasing the relevance of MC among men who are already practicing an HIV prevention method.
Funding
Support for this study was provided by a grant to FHI from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to support the Male Circumcision Consortium, a partnership between FHI, University of Illinois at Chicago working closely with the Nyanza Reproductive Health Society, and EngenderHealth.
History
Publisher Statement
The original version is available through the Public Library of Science at DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0019814