|
Knowledge and attitudes regarding male circumcision for HIV-1 prevention among heterosexual HIV-1 serodiscordant couples in Kampala, Uganda
Presented by Kenneth Mugwanya (United States).
K. Mugwanya1, J. Baeten2, C. Whalen3, C. Celum2, E. Nakku-Joloba4, E. Katabira4
1Case Western Reserve University, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Cleveland, United States, 2University of Washington, Seattle, United States, 3Univeristy of Georgia, Department. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Athens, United States, 4Makerere University, School of Medicine, Kampala, Uganda
Background: Large-scale roll-out of male circumcision (MC) will require widespread understanding of the benefits of circumcision for reducing HIV-1 risk in men. We sought to understand knowledge and attitudes regarding MC for HIV-1 prevention among HIV-1 serodiscordant couples, a population at high risk for transmitting HIV-1.
Methods: Members of heterosexual HIV-1 serodiscordant couples attending a research clinic in Kampala, Uganda were interviewed separately using a standard questionnaire about knowledge and perceptions about MC. The study was conducted between May and August 2008, prior to release of a national policy regarding MC.
Results: Of the 318 couples enrolled, 163 (51.3 %) were couples in which the male partner was HIV-1 infected and 155 (48.7 %) in which the female partner was HIV-1 infected. Overall, 77.1% of men (79.4% HIV-1 negative / 74.8% HIV-1 positive) and 89.6% of women (89.6% HIV-1 negative / 89.7% HIV-1 positive) were aware that MC reduces men's risk for HIV-1 acquisition. Over 95% of both men and women recognized that MC does not offer HIV-1 negative men complete protection from HIV-1 acquisition. More than 90% of men and women understood that circumcision of HIV-1 infected men does not offer protection to their HIV-1 uninfected female partners. There were no significant differences in knowledge about MC by HIV status for either men or women. In couples with uncircumcised HIV-1 negative men (n=92), 45/92 (48.9%) of men and 74/84 (88.1%) of female HIV-1 seropositive partners expressed interest in MC.
Conclusions: HIV-1 serodiscordant couples in Kampala were highly knowledgeable about the benefits and limitations of MC in reducing men's HIV-1 susceptibility. Nearly 50% of at-risk men were interested in becoming circumcised, a feeling echoed by the majority of their female partners. Our findings are encouraging news for Uganda and other high HIV-1 prevalence countries that are initiating roll-out of MC programs for HIV-1 prevention.
Download the e-Poster
|