The Influence of Religion in the Uptake of Male Circumcision as an Hiv Prevention Strategy in Swaziland

Abstract

Circumcision has been practised for centuries among various groups of people world-wide, mainly for religious, traditional, hygienic or medical reasons. However, this practice was rare in Swaziland. Following recommendations by the World Health Organisation that circumcision should be added as an additional strategy for HIV prevention, the country embarked on mass male circumcision campaigns, aimed at scaling up the practice nationwide. Apparently the turnup for the procedure is below the set targets. Knowledge of factors that influence the uptake of circumcision is necessary in order to maximise the success of the strategy. This study aimed at assessing the influence of religion and/or culture on perception and hence uptake of circumcision in Swaziland. An explorative qualitative research design was used, in which in-depth face-toface interviews were conducted on seventeen participants individually. Results showed thatChristianity and African Traditional Religion are the dominant religions in Swaziland and each of them has both a negative and a positive influence on the perception of, and hence the decision to be, circumcised. This depended on the individuals’ interpretation and understanding of the doctrine of their religion or denomination. It was recommended that the identified positive influences be capitalised on to promote circumcision.

Facilitators and barriers to voluntary medical male circumcision as an HIV prevention strategy in Kavango East, Namibia

“…Similar findings emerged from Maibvise and Mavundla’s 31 study on medical reasons for performing adult male circumcision in Swaziland, which indicated that some men get circumcised not because they want to do so, but as a treatment for phimosis and paraphimosis.…”

Assessment of Factors Affecting Utilization of Safe Male Circumcision among Males aged 15 to 49 years Living in Buremba Town Council, Kazo District. A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study.

“…Findings revealed that all Muslims contributing 7.5% of the total respondents who were interviewed in the study were already circumcised while the number of circumcised respondents who belonged to other religions varied that is; Anglican/Protestants (45%), Catholics (33.33%), Pentecostal church (11.67%) and Seventh Day Adventists (2.5%). This agrees with results from a study conducted in Swaziland on the influence of religion on the uptake of male circumcision, the findings revealed that religion has both negative and positive influences on individual perception and hence the decision to get circumcised C. Maibvise, (2015). This is probably because for Muslims it's mandatory for every individual in the religion to get circumcised to be regarded as a true Muslim and other religions do not take it as a very serious issue, however, the study area is ma-jorly composed of Anglican/Protestants followed by catholic religion.…”