'Secrets' that kill: crisis, custodianship and responsibility in ritual male circumcision in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

Male Circumcision Policy, Practices and Services in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Case Study

Mortality and morbidity among traditionally circumcised Xhosa boys in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

UNLABELLED Male circumcision is one of the oldest traditions observed by many societies. The ritual is performed at specific periods in life with the main purpose of integrating the male child into the society according to cultural norms. Recently, especially in the Eastern Cape, many initiates have died or have had to face life with mutilated genitals following this ritual. THE OBJECTIVE of ...

Traditional male circumcision in the Eastern Cape--scourge or blessing?

BACKGROUND Traditional male circumcision is still widely practised in the Xhosa population throughout South Africa. It is a rite of passage from boyhood to manhood. Unfortunately, botched circumcisions are a public health hazard and lead to tragic mutilations and deaths. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS The present study was undertaken to assess the extent of circumcision-related complications and fatal...

Correlates of consistent condom use among recently initiated and traditionally circumcised men in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

BACKGROUND Consistent use of condoms is the most effective method of preventing STIs including HIV. However, recent evidence suggests that limited knowledge about HIV prevention benefits from male circumcision leads to inconsistent condom use among traditionally circumcised men. The aim of this paper is to report on the prevalence of consistent condom use and identify its psychosocial correlate...

Traditional circumcision--the unkindest cut of all.

Traditional circumcision – the unkindest cut of all ‘What kind of ritual is this that it now is killing our children?’ (mother of a male Xhosa initiate)1 To the Editor: Twenty years ago two Eastern Cape urological surgeons documented their experience with treating initiates of umkhwetha, the ancient custom of ritual circumcision practised by the amaXhosa people of southern Africa. Crowley and K...