Contextual barriers and motivators to adult male medical circumcision in Rakai, Uganda

Robert Ssekubugu, Elli Leontsini, Maria J. Wawer, David Serwadda, Godfrey Kigozi, Caitlin E. Kennedy, Fred Nalugoda, Richard Sekamwa, Jennifer Wagman, Ronald H. Gray

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

Medical male circumcision (MMC) is a central component of HIV prevention. In this study we examined barriers to and facilitators of MMC in Rakai, Uganda. Interviews and focus groups with MMC acceptors, decliners, and community members were collected and analyzed iteratively. Themes were developed based on immersion, repeated reading, sorting, and coding of data using grounded theory. Pain, medical complications, infertility, lack of empirical efficacy, waiting time before resumption of sex, and religion were identified as obstacles to MMC acceptance. Prevention and healing of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), access to HIV and other ancillary care, penile hygiene, and peer influence were key motivators. Voluntary counseling and testing for HIV, partner influence, and sexual potency were both barriers and motivators. Individual and societal factors, such as pain and religion, might slow MMC scale up. Health benefits, such as HIV/STI prevention and penile hygiene, are essential in motivating men to accept MMC.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)795-804
Number of pages10
JournalQualitative Health Research
Volume23
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2013

Keywords

  • Africa, sub-Saharan
  • HIV/AIDS prevention
  • focus groups
  • interviews, semistructured
  • research, qualitative

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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