title: Perceptions about medical male circumcision and sexual behaviours of adults in rural Uganda: a cross sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Medical male circumcision is currently recognized as an additional important HIV preventive intervention to reduce the risk of heterosexually acquired HIV infection in men. However, sexual behaviours after medical circumcision can potentially reduce the expected benefits of the practice. This study explored the perceptions about medical male circumcision and sexual behaviours of adults in Kayunga district, Uganda.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was carried out among 393 respondents using a semi structured questionnaire. In addition, four focus group discussions were conducted. Quantitative data was analysed using STATA 12. Univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses were carried out. Qualitative data was analysed thematically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study established various perceptions about medical male circumcision and sexual behaviours. Majority 247 (64.5%) did not perceive circumcision as a practice that can lead men to have multiple sexual partners. Males were 3 times more likely to think that circumcision would lead to having multiple sexual partners than females (AOR=2.99, CI: 1.93-4.61). Only 89 (23.2%) believed that circumcision would lead to complacency and compromise the use of condoms to prevent against infection with HIV. Respondents who had education above primary were less likely to think that circumcision would compromise the use of condoms (AOR=0.49, CI: 0.31- 0.79). The perception that circumcised youths were less likely to abstain from sexual intercourse was less held among those with education above primary (AOR=0.58, CI: 0.37-0.91) and those older than 30 years (AOR=0.59, CI: 0.38-0.92).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There were gaps in knowledge and negative perceptions about MMC in the study community. Measures are needed to avert the negative perceptions by equipping communities with sufficient, accurate and consistent information about medical male circumcision and sexual behaviour.
authors.affiliation: Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences,Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Trasias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mukama
authors.affiliation: Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences,Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Rawlance
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ndejjo
authors.affiliation: Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences,Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Geofrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Musinguzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences,Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Musoke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002944:Circumcision, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014454:Uganda; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: HIV/AIDS; Perceptions; circumcision; prevention; sexual behaviours