title: How informed are clients who consent? A mixed-method evaluation of comprehension among clients of male circumcision services in Zambia and Swaziland.
abstract: Comprehension is fundamental for informed consent--an individual's right to choose a medical procedure, such as male circumcision (MC). Because optimal benefits depend on post-surgical behaviors, comprehension is particularly critical for MC programs. We evaluated clients' comprehension of MC's risks and benefits, wound care instructions, and risk reduction post-MC using a true/false test (n = 1181) and 92 semi-structured interviews (SSIs) in Zambia and Swaziland. Most participants (89% Zambia, 93% Swaziland) passed the true/false test, although adolescents scored lower (significantly so in Swaziland) than adults and one-third (including nearly half of adolescents in Zambia) said MC has no risks. SSIs indicated confusion between "risk" of adverse surgical outcomes and reduced "risk" of HIV; most respondents acknowledged the 6 week abstinence period post-MC, yet few said resuming sex early increases HIV risk. Providers should distinguish between surgical "risks" and reduced HIV "risk," and emphasize that HIV risk increases with sex before complete healing.
authors: Population Council, 1 Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA. bfriedland@popcouncil.org
authors: Barbara A
authors: BA
authors: Friedland
authors: Louis
authors: L
authors: Apicella
authors: Katie D
authors: KD
authors: Schenk
authors: Meredith
authors: M
authors: Sheehy
authors: Paul C
authors: PC
authors: Hewett
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002944:Circumcision, Male / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000941:ethics / Q000523:psychology*; D032882:Comprehension; D013541:Eswatini / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult; D015024:Zambia / Q000453:epidemiology