Knowledge and Practices of Male Circumcision as an HIV/AIDS Prevention Measure among Males in Mbarara Municipality

Since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1980's, more than 60 million people have acquired the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and AIDS related illnesses have claimed nearly 20 million lives worldwide. The landmark randomized clinical trials (RCT) conducted in Orange Farm in South Africa, Rakai district in Uganda, Kisumu province in Kenya (demonstrated a reduction in HIV incidence among circumcised men. Uganda incorporated Medical Male Circumcision into the HIV prevention package in 2009 to enable improved provision of MC services in Uganda. This study mainly assessed the knowledge, attitudes and practices of Male Circumcision as an HIV/AIDS prevention measure among males in Mbarara Municipality. This cross-sectional study was conducted in July 2017 among 150 males aged between 18-49 years at Kamukuzi, Kakoba and Nyamitanga health centers in Mbarara municipality in Uganda. The study found that 58% of the respondents were circumcised. Respondents reported good knowledge on the benefits of male circumcision on HIV infection. For example, 86% of the respondents revealed that Circumcision of an HIV negative man reduces HIV risk. Majority of the respondents had positive attitudes towards male circumcision which could possibly explain the high prevalence of circumcision (58%). In fact, 43.3% and 70.7% revealed that circumcised men enjoy sex more than uncircumcised men and would recommend MC to their sons respectively. From this study, a high level of knowledge was found, particularly its potential to reduce the risk of HIV infection. Similarly, the respondents had good attitudes towards Male circumcision. Male Circirmcision is accepted on a large scale by males in Mbarara municipality as an HIV prevention strategy considering that this is not a traditionally circumcising community