"When I was circumcised I was taught certain things": risk compensation and protective sexual behavior among circumcised men in Kisumu, Kenya.
BACKGROUND
Male circumcision has been shown to reduce the transmission of HIV from women to men through vaginal sex by approximately 60%. There is concern that men may engage in risk compensation after becoming circumcised, diminishing the benefits of male circumcision.


RESULTS
We conducted qualitative interviews with 30 sexually active circumcised men in Kisumu, Kenya from March to November 2008. Most respondents reported no behavior change or increasing protective sexual behaviors including increasing condom use and reducing the number of sexual partners. A minority of men reported engaging in higher risk behaviors either not using condoms or increasing the number of sex partners. Circumcised respondents described being able to perform more rounds of sex, easier condom use, and fewer cuts on the penis during sex.


CONCLUSIONS
Results illustrate that information about MC's protection against HIV has disseminated into the larger community and MC accompanied by counseling and HIV testing can foster positive behavior change and maintain sexual behavior.
Riess
Thomas H
TH
School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America. vonriess@yahoo.com
Achieng'
Maryline M
MM
Otieno
Samuel
S
Ndinya-Achola
J O
JO
Bailey
Robert C
RC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002944:Circumcision, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003376:Counseling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D052816:Foreskin / Q000293:injuries; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007630:Kenya; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D012309:Risk-Taking; D021841:Safe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
AIDS Behav. 2010 Feb;14(1):11-6; dicussion 34-7
18648926
AIDS Educ Prev. 2001 Jun;13(3):252-67
11459361
PLoS One. 2008 Jun 18;3(6):e2443
18560581
Risk Anal. 2001 Aug;21(4):727-36
11726023
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2005 Sep 1;40(1):77-82
16123686
BMJ. 2006 Mar 11;332(7541):605-7
16528088
PLoS Med. 2005 Nov;2(11):e298
16231970
Sex Transm Dis. 2008 Dec;35(12):1009-10
18936724
J Urol. 2010 Jul;184(1):203-9
20483156
AIDS Behav. 2008 May;12(3):363-73
18161018
AIDS Behav. 2003 Dec;7(4):413-20
14707538
AIDS Behav. 2010 Aug;14(4):949-59
18791819
PLoS Med. 2007 Mar 27;4(3):e138; author reply e146
17388676
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol. 1997 Dec 1;16(4):266-71
9402073
MMWR Recomm Rep. 2001 Nov 9;50(RR-19):1-57; quiz CE1-19a1-CE6-19a1
11718472
Lancet. 2007 Feb 24;369(9562):657-66
17321311
JAMA. 1998 Oct 7;280(13):1161-7
9777816
Sex Transm Dis. 2003 Nov;30(11):844-9
14603093
JAMA. 2004 Jul 14;292(2):224-36
15249572
Lancet. 2007 Feb 24;369(9562):643-56
17321310
Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. 2007 Dec;4(4):165-72
18366947
Sex Transm Infect. 2004 Dec;80(6):435-9
15572609
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2007 Jan 1;44(1):66-70
17019365