Male Circumcision: The Determinant of Social Acceptance

Abstract

Abstract

Background:

The aim of this article was to explore social acceptance as a determinant that needs consideration when developing a circumcision health-promotion program in rural communities in Libode, South Africa. Deaths of traditionally circumcised initiates between the ages of 12 and 18 years are reported yearly in the Eastern Cape, a province in South Africa. These deaths are in particular due to complications such as gangrene, sepsis, and dehydration.

Methods:

A qualitative approach with exploratory and interpretive components was followed. First, a simple random sampling was used to select seven focus group discussions with 84 participants. Next, a purposive sampling was used to select 10 key informants for semistructured interviews. Two questions were asked from the participants in the focus group discussions as well as from the key informants during interviews: (1) What are your views concerning preference of traditional to hospital circumcision? (2) What are the benefits of traditional versus hospital circumcision? A digital voice recorder was used to record data. Tesch's eight-step data analysis method was used. The data were organized and prepared for analysis by first transcribing the interviews verbatim and then translating the transcriptions.

Results:

Four overall themes were developed during data analysis: (1) the meaning of male circumcision in Libode; (2) benefits of male circumcision in Libode; (3) views regarding action that should be taken to prevent circumcision-related complications and deaths, and (4) training of traditional surgeons and nurses.

Conclusions:

The research findings indicate that the benefits acquired from traditional circumcision outweigh the social rejection and ridicule experienced after hospital circumcision. Social acceptance combined with the need to learn more about manhood values acquired from traditional circumcision schools is viewed as a valued determinant.