Prevalence and acceptability of male circumcision in South Africa.
BACKGROUND
The objectives of the current national study were to determine the rates of self-reported circumcision among South African men and, more importantly, evaluate the acceptability of male circumcision in South Africa by uncircumcised adult men and all adult women.


METHODS
The study based on a population-based survey included a nationally representative subgroup of 6654 men aged 15 years and older who where included in the analysis on male circumcision prevalence, and a subgroup of 6796 women aged 15 to 49 years who were included in the analysis on male circumcision acceptance.


RESULTS
An overall prevalence of self-reported male circumcision of 42.8% was found. Among the Black African population group the prevalence of male circumcision was 48.2%, 32.1% were traditionally and 13.4% were medically circumcised. Among males not circumcised 45.7% of 15-24 years olds indicated that they would consider being circumcised compared to 28.3% among 25-49 years olds. In multivariate analysis among non-circumcised men Black African and Coloured population groups and having heard of the HIV protective effect of male circumcision were significant predictors for male circumcision acceptability, and among women with a non-circumcised sexual partner, Black African and Coloured population groups and higher education were predictors for male circumcision acceptability.


CONCLUSIONS
The study found high rates and high acceptability of male circumcision. Findings associated with the acceptability of male circumcision can be used to increase awareness of the benefits of male circumcision for HIV prevention.
HIV/AIDS/STI and TB Research Programme, Human Sciences Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa ; Department of Psychology, University of Limpopo, Turloop, South Africa ; ASEAN Institute for Health Development, Mahidol University, Salaya, Thailand.
Karl
K
Peltzer
HIV/AIDS/STI and TB Research Programme, Human Sciences Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa.
Dorina
D
Onoya
HIV/AIDS/STI and TB Research Programme, Human Sciences Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa.
Elias
E
Makonko
HIV/AIDS/STI and TB Research Programme, Human Sciences Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa.
Leickness
L
Simbayi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D044383:Black People; D002944:Circumcision, Male / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
Male circumcision; South Africa; acceptability; national population-based survey; prevalence