Determinants of Level of Uptake of Safe Male Circumcision Among the 15 - 49 Year Old :
Abstract
Introduction: This study was to establish the determinants of level of uptake of SMC among the 15-49 years old in Soroti district. The main objective was to establish determinants of the level of uptake of Safe Male Circumcision among the 15-49 year olds in Soroti District. And the specific objectives were to establish the level of awareness, to establish the perceived benefits of SMC , identify the socio-cultural factors that influence safe male circumcision uptakeof SMC and to establish the accessibility of safe male circumcision services to the 15-49 in Soroti district.
Methodology: A cross sectional study design employing both quantitative and qualitative techniques. Primary data from pre tested interview guided structured questionnaires was collected from 344 respondents and 5 Key Informants. Secondary data was derived from records from DHO’s office and AIC registers
Results: Awareness of SMC was fairly good the uptake is at 23%. Education level, place of residence, religion, and marital status were the socio-demographic characteristics that were significant.
Knowledge of SMC site, knowledge of basic SMC facts; consistent condom use and abstaining from sex during the healing period were also significant for SMC uptake.
Hygiene and sexual pleasure enhancement and cosmetic were the perceived benefits predicted uptake. Parents’ positive towards SMC, peer influence, spousal influence and religion predicted uptake in the socio cultural perspective.
Recommendations
To further heighten the SMC level of uptake, more health workers need to be trained to perform the procedure, health facilities to be equipped, further sensitization of communities on the benefits of the procedure and use of religious institutions and schools to advocate for SMC and in cooperation of the traditional circumcisers for improvement of quality of the circumcision that they perform. More publicity should be done in the rural areas. The study also recommends similar studies to be done in other regions too