Perceptions of the PrePex Device Among Men Who Received or Refused PrePex Circumcision and People Accompanying Them

BACKGROUND The PrePex medical male circumcision (MMC) device has been approved for MMC scale-up. However, the WHO has recommended that a country-specific situation analysis should be carried out before MMC device rollout. METHOD A cross-sectional survey was conducted over 12 months in 3 MMC clinics, by trained nurses and researchers, to ascertain attitudes toward PrePex MMC in 3 groups: men consenting for PrePex MMC (PrePex recipients), people accompanying men, and adolescents coming for either PrePex or surgical circumcision (MMC escorts) and men refusing the PrePex device MMC (PrePex rejecters). All participants received information on surgical and the PrePex device MMC methods. RESULTS A total of 312 PrePex recipients, 117 MMC escorts, and 21 PrePex rejecters were recruited into the study. Ninety-nine percent of PrePex recipients thought that their expectations (safe, convenient, minimal pain) were met, and they were pleased with cosmetic outcome. Fifty-nine percent of PrePex rejecters opted for surgical circumcision because they perceived PrePex to be novel and risky. All 3 groups of participants were concerned about odor, dead skin, discomfort, healing time, and wound care. Ninety-eight percent of MMC escorts, 99% of PrePex recipient, and 81% of PrePex rejecters perceived PrePex circumcision as an acceptable option for South African MMC programmes. CONCLUSIONS This acceptability study suggests that PrePex MMC is considered safe and convenient and could be incorporated into existing MMC programmes. Concerns about odor, pain, wound care, and healing time suggest that the need for more research to further optimize methods and that MMC clients should be counseled on available methods to enable them to choose among options based on their preferences.