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FACTORS INFLUENCING UPTAKE OF VOLUNTARY MEDICAL MALE CIRCUMCISION SERVICES AMONG MEN IN SOROTI SUB COUNTY, SOROTI DISTRICT

Introduction: In Uganda, by the end of 2015 the country‘s health ministry aimed to circumcise 80% – or 4.2 million – men aged between 15 and 49. But between 2008 and 2013 the country only managed to circumcise 50% of this population (MOH, 2015). The level of uptake of VMMC services was low in Soroti Sub County. This motivated the researcher to carry out a study about the factors influencing uptake of voluntary medical male circumcision services among men in Soroti Sub County Soroti District. It was based on specific objectives that included; to assess the social demographic, knowledge, attitude and health care factors influencing uptake of voluntary medical male circumcision services among men in Sub County Soroti district. Methods: The study employed a descriptive cross sectional study design using quantitative methods of data collection. A sample size of 409 respondents who were men were selected by simple random sampling. Data was collected using structured questionnaire administered by the researcher. Results: The level of uptake of VMMC services among men in Soroti Sub County was low as compared to the national target. This was due to lack of adequate sensitization about the importance of the service. Social demographic characteristics of the respondents that influenced the utilization of VMMC services were age, marital status, level of education, religion, monthly income and tribe. Knowledge factors that influenced the uptake of VMMC services among men included; Source of information, awareness of importance of VMMC, knowledge about the places where to get VMMC services, VMMC reduce sexual pleasure, knowledge about the hygiene benefits of VMMC, knowledge about the care given to circumcised males and awareness of expected duration of recovery. Attitude factors that influenced the uptake of VMMC services among men in Soroti subcounty included; being very free to undergo circumcision, a belief that VMMC is not painful, a belief that VMMC does lead to heavy bleeding, a mind-set that VMMC is ideal because it reveals respondents‘ HIV status, a perception that VMMC is free of infections during surgery, a belief that a circumcised male stands less chances of STIs infection, a mind-set that a circumcision wound takes short time to heal and that a circumcised male doesn‘t experience reduced sexual pleasure. Health care related factors that influenced uptake of VMMC services included; availability of VMMC services, distance to health facility, ever been face to face health educated about VMMC services, adequacy of health workers, provision of information about VMMC, extortion of additional fees for VMMC services, provision of counseling and testing services about STIs and regularly attended health care services. Conclusion: The level of uptake of VMMC services in Soroti Sub County was low. It was found out that majority of the respondents had low knowledge and negative attitude towards the uptake of VMMC services among men. Also, the health care related factors never favoured men‘s utilization of VMMC services. Recommendations: The Ministry of health should work hand in hand with the health care workers at sub county and village level to educate and sensitize men more about VMMC services so that they positively perceive it and utilize it. The VMMC services should also be extended to all health care facilities so that accessibility is increased.

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Author: iriamo esther
Contributed by: asbat digital library
Institution: international health sciences university
Level: university
Sublevel: under-graduate
Type: dissertations