Acceptability of infant male circumcision as part of HIV prevention and male reproductive health efforts in Gaborone, Botswana, and surrounding areas.
Adult male circumcision reduces a man's risk for heterosexual HIV acquisition. Infant circumcision is safer, easier and less costly but not widespread in southern Africa. Questionnaires were administered to sixty mothers of newborn boys in Botswana: 92% responded they would circumcise if the procedure were available in a clinical setting, primarily to prevent future HIV infection, and 85% stated the infant's father must participate in the decision. Neonatal male circumcision appears to be acceptable in Botswana and deserves urgent attention in resource-limited regions with high HIV prevalence, with the aim to expand services in safe, culturally acceptable and sustainable ways.
Plank
Rebeca M
RM
Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA. rplank@partners.org
Makhema
Joseph
J
Kebaabetswe
Poloko
P
Hussein
Fatima
F
Lesetedi
Chiapo
C
Halperin
Daniel
D
Bassil
Barbara
B
Shapiro
Roger
R
Lockman
Shahin
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001902:Botswana; D002944:Circumcision, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012737:Sex Factors