Male Circumcision for HIV Prevention: Predicting Behavioral Intention and Attitude

Following three landmark studies in South Africa, Kenya and Uganda that found male circumcision significantly reduced the risk of female-to-male transmission of HIV, researchers have argued that consideration should be given to the acceptability and feasibility of providing safe services for male circumcision as an HIV prevention strategy in areas of Africa where men are not traditionally circumcised. UNAIDS/WHO have recommended scaling up MC efforts and noted that it is critical that any scale up efforts include communication that is based on formative research. This study is an attempt to provide such research and uses the health belief model and the theory of reasoned action as the foundation for collecting data on Ugandan males’ beliefs to explain their attitudes toward circumcision and intent to get circumcised. This study surveyed males residing in two slums in Kampala, Uganda, and found that respondents’ intent to get circumcised was relatively high and their attitude towards circumcision was favorable. Results also showed that all the variables in the HBM and RAPB help to explain attitude and intent to get circumcised but that promotional efforts might want to emphasize true benefits.