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org Tumwesigye et al
©IDOSR PUBLICATIONS
International Digital Organization for Scientific Research ISSN: 2550-794X
IDOSR JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH 8(1) 20-25, 2023.
Attitudes of Women in Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision in Maziba Sub-
County Ndorwa East, Kabale District

Tumwesigye Ronard, Tamale Andrew and Atuheire Collins

Department of Public Health of Kampala International University, Uganda.

ABSTRACT
Voluntary medical male circumcision is being scaled up at a slow pace in Uganda. Individuals'
awareness must be increased in order for them to develop good attitudes toward male
circumcision as an HIV prevention technique. A cross-sectional study design was adopted,
with parishes selected using a cluster selection method and the number of homes selected
using a probability proportionate to size method. Households were chosen for study using
systematic random sampling, and a total of 358 adult female respondents took part in the
study. Data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. STATA version 14.2 was
used to analyze the data. About 72.6% of women had a negative attitude towards male
circumcision. Majority of women who had negative attitude towards male circumcision
thought it was a painful procedure.
Keywords: attitudes, women, male circumcision.

INTRODUCTION
Male circumcision is the surgical removal more than 60%, according to these studies.
of the penis' foreskin, and it is one of the Because of this, WHO/UNAIDS advised
world's oldest and most prevalent male circumcision as part of a
procedures. It is usually done for social, comprehensive strategy to prevent
cultural, religious, or medicinal purposes heterosexually-acquired HIV infection in
[1,2,3,4,5,6]. A qualified health care countries with high HIV incidence and low
professional or doctor performs the male circumcision rates in 2007 [3]. In
medical male circumcision procedure in a 2010, Uganda implemented a safe male
medical facility. When performed in a circumcision (SMC) policy as part of a
professional setting under sterile comprehensive HIV prevention approach
conditions by a competent practitioner that included abstinence, faithfulness to
using correct instrumentation, medical one partner, and condom usage (ABC). Male
male circumcision is a rapid and safe circumcision was primarily done for socio-
procedure [3,7,8,9,10]. cultural reasons as a rite of passage from
According to randomized clinical trials childhood to manhood among the Bagisu
that were conducted in Sub-Saharan Africa; and Bakonjo ethnic groups, as well as a
South Africa [4]; Kenya [5] and Uganda [6] religious ceremony among Moslems, prior
male circumcision protects against HIV to the implementation of this policy. The
and reduces the incidence of other SMC policy's purpose was to help reduce
sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV and other STIs by providing safe male
such as genital ulcers, human circumcision services [7,11,12,13,14].
papillomavirus (HPV), and chlamydia in The study was done to assess attitudes of
female partners of circumcised men. women towards voluntary medical male
Circumcision lowered the probability of circumcision of their sons, their male
heterosexual HIV transmission from an partners and male relatives among women
infected woman to a circumcised man by in the study area.

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METHODOLOGY
Study design inclusion criteria was not available for
A cross-sectional study design was interview after several tries, the next
employed among women living in Maziba nearest family was visited.
sub-county, Kabale South western Uganda.
Study area Data collection instruments
Maziba sub-county is in South East part of A pre-tested standardized semi-
Kabale district, and the major economic structured questionnaire was used to
activity is crop husbandry especially collect data.
pineapple growing for cash. Data Analysis
Study population The socio-demographic features of
The research participants were chosen research participants were described using
based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. univariate analysis. Mean, SD, percentage
Inclusion criteria and frequencies were used to summarize
Adult women who had been living with a data. Stratification was done over marital
male partner for at least 6 months in the status to detect any differences.
Maziba sub-count and had given their Ethical Considerations
agreement to participate in the study were Informed consent
included. The study's primary investigator
Exclusion criteria (Tumwesigye Ronard) presented himself to
Women with Muslim male partners, and the participants and discussed all of the
those who were found with mental illness procedures involved, as well as the study's
or critical illness were not included in the aim, participant selection criteria, risks,
study. and benefits. Participants were also told
Sampling techniques that their participation was completely
To pick parishes, a cluster sampling voluntary, that they could stop at any time
approach was utilized, followed by a during the interview, and that if they had
probability proportionate to size method any questions, they could contact the
to determine the number of homes. A appropriate person. Before participating in
household was chosen for study using the data collecting method, individuals
systematic random sampling. A collection who accepted that they had understood
of random numbers was used to generate were asked to sign or place a thumbprint
a random start. If a home was empty at the on a written informed consent statement.
time of a visit, it was returned later that Confidentiality and privacy
day or the next day. If the house was All completed questionnaires were kept
permanently vacant, the inhabitant lady under lock and key by the lead
changed her mind about participating in investigator.
the study, or an adult woman who fit the

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RESULTS

Table 1: Women’s attitude towards Voluntary medical Male Circumcision of study

participants in Maziba sub county Ndorwa East Kabale district
Item Response
Strongly Agree neutral disagree Strongly
agree disagree

10.1 Male circumcision is 14 (3.9) 38 23 (6.4) 138 145

something only young people (10.6) (38.6) (40.5)
undergo
10.2. Male circumcision is 7 (2.0) 11 22 (6.2) 161 157
something only certain tribes (3.1) (45.0) (43.8)
undergo
10.3. Male circumcision is a painful 118 (33.0) 135 61 29 (8.1) 15 (4.2)
procedure (37.7) (17.0)
10.4 Circumcised men make sex 85 (23.7) 65 175 25(7.0) 8 (2.2)
pleasant (18.2) (48.9)
10.5. Circumcised men are likely to 68 (19.1) 55 107 (30) 101(28.3) 26 (7.3)
be womanizers & polygamous (15.4)
10.6. Most men like to be 7 (2.0) 37 110 112 92(25.7)
circumcised (10.3) (30.7) (31.3)
10.7. Circumcised men are richer 5 (1.4) 7 (2.0) 53 152(42.5) 141
(14.8) (39.4)

10.8. Circumcised men are 7 (2.0) 23 43 150 134

educated (6.4) (12.0) (42.0) (37.5)
10.9. Our men are not brave 36 (10.1) 83 29(8.1) 75(21.0) 135
(23.2) (37.7)
10.10 Circumcised men lose their 5 (1.4) 16 37 141 158
culture (4.5) (10.4) (39.5) (44.3)

10.11. Condom use is not necessary 24 (6.7) 34 74 129 96 (26.9)

when a man is circumcised (9.5) (20.7) (36.9)

Table 2: Overall attitude of women towards voluntary medical male circumcision.

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative

Percent
Valid 1.00 3 .8 .8 .8
2.00 12 3.4 3.4 4.2
3.00 81 22.6 22.6 26.8
3.50 2 .6 .6 27.4
4.00 175 48.9 48.9 76.3
5.00 85 23.7 23.7 100.0
Total 358 100.0 100.0

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Table 3: Effect of overall attitude towards women support in Voluntary medical male
circumcision.

q8.2.1male partner was supported Total

during circumcision

0 1
overall attitude 1.00 0 1 1

2.00 8 9 17

3.00 0 1 1

4.00 24 33 57

5.00 16 17 33

Total 48 61 109

Table 4: Attitude factors that significantly affect women involvement in voluntary

medical male circumcision.

q8.2.1male partner was Total

supported during
circumcision
0 1 X2 df P value
q10.3. Male 1 25 18 43 9.945 4 0.041
circumcision is a 2 15 25 40
painful procedure 3 4 10 14
4 0 5 5
5 4 3 7
Total 48 61 109
DISCUSSION
Majority (72.6%) of the respondents were concerned. This is because Negative
in disagreement with the questions used to perceptions, attitudes and opinions about
assess the level of attitude towards male circumcision deter acceptance of
voluntary medical male circumcision male circumcision as they act as barriers
indicating high level of negative attitude. [8]. This emanates from the fact that,
Even those with circumcised partners, 48% majority of women felt male circumcision
did not support during circumcision is painful. This is consistent with studies
process. from Namibia [9], where respondents cited
The main finding that contributed to pain (28.8%) as one of the primary hurdles
negative attitude towards male to male circumcision acceptance, followed
circumcision was that women thought that by safety (23.6 %).
male circumcision was a painful procedure Despite the fact that the majority of
with level of significance at 0.041. women in Maziba sub-county were aware
Finding of women’s negative attitude about male circumcision, they found it
towards male circumcision is a critical difficult to embrace and advocate for it.
finding in as far as male circumcision More awareness campaigns need to be
program promotion in Kabale is

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utilized by government agencies
promoting VMMC.
CONCLUSION
Majority of women had negative because they thought it was a painful
attitudetowards male circumcision procedure.
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