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- Title
THE INFLUENCE OF RELIGION IN THE UPTAKE OF MALE CIRCUMCISION AS AN HIV PREVENTION STRATEGY IN SWAZILAND.
- Authors
Maibvise, C.; Mavundla, T. R.
- 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 turn-up 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-to-face interviews were conducted on seventeen participants individually. Results showed that Christianity 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.
- Subjects
ESWATINI; HIV prevention; CHRISTIANITY; CIRCUMCISION; HEALTH promotion; INTERVIEWING; RELIGION &; medicine; RESEARCH; STATISTICAL sampling; CULTURAL values; SOCIAL attitudes; THEMATIC analysis
- Publication
Africa Journal of Nursing & Midwifery, 2014, Vol 16, Issue 1, p103
- ISSN
1682-5055
- Publication type
Article