KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health, Ndwedwe Community Health Centre, Verulam, South Africa; and, School of Nursing and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.
S Afr Fam Pract (2004). 2021 Aug 30;63(1):e1-e6. doi: 10.4102/safp.v63i1.5318.
There is compelling evidence that voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) reduces the chances of heterosexual transmission of HIV infection. Healthcare workers are among the key influencers in terms of the scale-up of VMMC as they are often involved in mobilisation for uptake. There is a paucity of qualitative research on healthcare workers' experiences, understanding and perceptions of VMMC; particularly in the South African rural primary healthcare context. This study was conducted to examine healthcare workers perceptions and understanding of VMMC in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
The study employed a qualitative approach using a phenomenographic design. A purposive sample of 15 doctors, nurses and clinical associates working in 6 different rural clinics in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, were interviewed in English in-depth using a semi-structured interview schedule. The interviews were audio-recorded, and transcribed. The results were analysed thematically using phenomenographic data analysis procedures.
Categories of description in participants' perceptions and understanding of VMMC emerged. The findings of this study revealed that healthcare workers perceptions and understanding of VMMC were predominantly influenced by the hegemonic religious and cultural norms associated with male circumcision in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
The findings of this study suggest that tailored training to address healthcare workers misperceptions and poor understanding of VMMC is necessary to ensure that they become effective custodians for VMMC implementation.
有确凿的证据表明，自愿男性包皮环切术（VMMC）降低了异性传播艾滋病毒感染的几率。医疗保健工作者是 VMMC 规模扩大的关键影响者之一，因为他们经常参与动员接受 VMMC。关于医疗保健工作者对 VMMC 的经验、理解和看法的定性研究很少；特别是在南非农村初级保健背景下。这项研究旨在检查南非夸祖鲁-纳塔尔省医疗保健工作者对 VMMC 的看法和理解。
本研究采用定性方法，采用现象学设计。在南非夸祖鲁-纳塔尔省的 6 个不同农村诊所工作的 15 名医生、护士和临床助理以英语进行了深入的半结构式访谈，采用目的性抽样。访谈进行了录音和转录。使用现象学数据分析程序对结果进行了主题分析。
研究结果显示，参与者对 VMMC 的看法和理解出现了描述性类别。这项研究的结果表明，医疗保健工作者对 VMMC 的看法和理解主要受到南非夸祖鲁-纳塔尔省与男性割礼相关的主流宗教和文化规范的影响。
这项研究的结果表明，需要进行有针对性的培训，以解决医疗保健工作者对 VMMC 的误解和理解不足的问题，以确保他们成为 VMMC 实施的有效监护人。
