Acceptability of male circumcision among adolescent boys and their parents, Botswana

AIDS Behav. 2012 Feb;16(2):340-9. doi: 10.1007/s10461-011-9929-7.

Abstract

Little is known of the acceptability of male circumcision (MC) to adolescent boys, a key target group for HIV prevention. We conducted a cluster design survey among adolescent boys and their parents/guardians in two villages in Botswana. Of 1300 households visited, 398 boys were eligible; 269 boys and 210 parents/guardians participated. MC was described correctly by 80% of boys, and 76% identified that MC reduces the risk of male HIV acquisition. After a brief informational session, 75% of boys stated that they would definitely want to be circumcised and 96% of parents/guardians would want their boy circumcised. Boys most frequently reported pain (49%) and possible health problems (19%) as concerns undergoing MC; concerns about peer or partner acceptance, sexual function, or cultural appropriateness were uncommon. Adolescent MC is likely to be highly acceptable in Botswana if done safely, for free and with adequate pain control in a hospital setting.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent*
  • Botswana / epidemiology
  • Circumcision, Male / statistics & numerical data*
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Communicable Disease Control / methods*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medicine, African Traditional / adverse effects
  • Medicine, African Traditional / methods*
  • Parents*
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / statistics & numerical data*
  • Risk Factors
  • Rural Health