Cutting into perceptions : investigating men's understanding of protection - through medical male circumcision for HIV prevention, in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.
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Date
2012
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Abstract
Three recent Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) have been able to deduce that Medical
Male Circumcision (MMC) can reduce a heterosexual man’s chances of acquiring HIV
through vaginal sexual intercourse by approximately 60% (Auvert et al. 2005; Gray et al.
2007; Bailey et al. 2007). In 2010, based on WHO recommendations, South Africa
commenced a nationwide roll-out of MMC services. However, in the wake of these findings
have come concerns that decreases in men’s perceived risk of contracting HIV could spark
increases in risky sexual behaviour (risk compensation), in turn, driving up HIV incidence as
opposed to abating it (Cassell et al. 2006). Accordingly, the World Health Organisation has
identified social change communication as one of the ten key elements critical to the success
of a wide scale MMC roll out (WHO & UNAIDS, 2010). Aside from creating demand, the
role of MMC health communication efforts in crafting messages delineating the scope of
MMC’s protective ability is paramount; especially in South Africa, a country hamstrung by a
weak public health sector that can ill afford any regression in the fight against HIV and
AIDS.
This thesis provides a small-scale qualitative study that investigates both the motivating and
discouraging factors impacting on men’s choices to undergo MMC, as well as exploring how
and what ‘key messages’ of Medical Male Circumcision media and information initiatives are
being received. In this way, my study hopes to bring insight into not only risk compensation
associated with MMC, but also to provide a glimpse into the condition of health
communication for MMC in the South African context.
Description
Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.
Keywords
Circumcision--Social aspects--KwaZulu-Natal--Durban., Communication in public health--KwaZulu-Natal--Durban., HIV infections--KwaZulu-Natal--Durban--Prevention., Communication in community health services--KwaZulu-Natal--Durban., Theses--Culture, communication and media studies.