Prevalence of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision for HIV Infection Prevention - Chókwè District, Mozambique, 2014-2019

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2021 Jul 2;70(26):942-946. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7026a2.

Abstract

Male circumcision is an important preventive strategy that confers lifelong partial protection (approximately 60% reduced risk) against heterosexually acquired HIV infection among males (1). In Mozambique, the prevalence of male circumcision was 51% when the voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) program began in 2009. The Mozambique Ministry of Health set a goal of 80% circumcision prevalence among males aged 10-49 years by 2019 (2). CDC analyzed data from five cross-sectional surveys of the Chókwè Health and Demographic Surveillance System (CHDSS) to evaluate progress toward the goal and guide ongoing needs for VMMC in Mozambique. During 2014-2019, circumcision prevalence among males aged 15-59 years increased 42%, from 50.1% to 73.5% (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 1.42). By 2019, circumcision prevalence among males aged 15-24 years was 90.2%, exceeding the national goal (2). However, circumcision prevalence among males in older age groups remained below 80%; prevalence was 62.7%, 54.5%, and 55.7% among males aged 25-34, 35-44, and 45-59 years, respectively. A multifaceted strategy addressing concerns about the safety of the procedure, cultural norms, and competing priorities that lead to lack of time could help overcome barriers to circumcision among males aged ≥25 years.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Circumcision, Male / statistics & numerical data*
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mozambique / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Program Evaluation
  • Voluntary Programs*
  • Young Adult