Mathias Sadock Peter, Kahwa Amos, Kimaro Godfather, Ngadaya Esther, Nchagwa Hellen, Eric Frank, Mfinanga Sayoki, Mwombeki Thereza, Kagaruki Gibson, Mwenda Lucy, Smeo Japhet, Kapologwe Ntuli, Mathania Mary, Russa Denis
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Dar Es Salaam-Tanzania.
National Institute for Medical Research, Muhimbili Research Centre-Tanzania.
East Afr Health Res J. 2023;7(1):103-108. doi: 10.24248/eahrj.v7i1.715. Epub 2023 Jul 12.
Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) is a surgical procedure done by a qualified medical personnel using anesthesia. In Tanzania, there is a gap between adult men who are not circumcised and adolescents. This calls for a review of the current situation of VMMC services in the community at large in order to inform policymakers and stakeholders involved in the fight against HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. The present study explored the factors influencing utilisation of VMMC services among adult males in Lindi Region, Tanzania.
A cross-sectional study was conducted among adults male (15-49 years). Data were collected by using a structured modified measure evaluation quantitative Version 2 questionnaire using a Tablet/Android device with an Open Data Kit (ODK) application (Google Inc. California, USA).
The socio-demographic set up of the study participants was mainly composed of males less than 30yrs, single, unemployed, with primary education as the highest level of study and of a Muslim faith. Majority of the respondents (92%) recommended circumcision to a male family member who is not yet circumcised. The study showed that improved sexual performance (81%), penile hygiene (97%) and circumcision as a modern civilization (96%) to be the key factors that motivated respondents' utilisation of VMMC services. However, only 20.6% of the respondents could barely say that VMMC is a surgical procedure done by qualified medical personnel under anaesthesia. The major reasons for recommending the utilisation of VMMC services to their family members were the VMMC usefulness in preventing STIs (48.9%), cultural practices and norms (31.5%), improved penile hygiene (17.4%) and religious reasons (2.2%).
VMMC is positively favoured by the local coastal communities of the Lindi region of Tanzania Mainland. Our findings may be inferred to reflect on the other neighbouring regions with similar sociocultural set ups such as Mtwara, Pwani, Rural Dar es Salaam and Tanga and the isles of Unguja and Pemba. Programs addressing VMMC may be well instituted in these local communities with high degree of favourability and success.
自愿男性包皮环切术（VMMC）是由合格医务人员在麻醉下进行的外科手术。在坦桑尼亚，未接受包皮环切术的成年男性与青少年之间存在差距。这就需要对整个社区VMMC服务的现状进行审查，以便为参与抗击艾滋病毒和其他性传播疾病的政策制定者和利益相关者提供信息。本研究探讨了影响坦桑尼亚林迪地区成年男性使用VMMC服务的因素。
对成年男性（15 - 49岁）进行了一项横断面研究。使用带有开放数据工具包（ODK）应用程序（美国加利福尼亚州谷歌公司）的平板电脑/安卓设备，通过结构化的改良测量评估定量版本2问卷收集数据。
研究参与者的社会人口结构主要由30岁以下、单身、失业、最高学历为小学且为穆斯林信仰的男性组成。大多数受访者（92%）向未接受包皮环切术的男性家庭成员推荐包皮环切术。研究表明，性能力改善（81%）、阴茎卫生（97%）以及包皮环切术作为一种现代文明（96%）是促使受访者使用VMMC服务的关键因素。然而，只有20.6%的受访者勉强能说出VMMC是由合格医务人员在麻醉下进行的外科手术。向家庭成员推荐使用VMMC服务的主要原因是VMMC对预防性传播感染有用（48.9%）、文化习俗和规范（31.5%）、阴茎卫生改善（17.4%）以及宗教原因（2.2%）。
坦桑尼亚大陆林迪地区的当地沿海社区对VMMC持积极态度。我们的研究结果可能推断反映了其他具有类似社会文化结构的邻近地区，如姆特瓦拉、普瓦尼、达累斯萨拉姆农村和坦噶以及奔巴岛和桑给巴尔岛。针对VMMC的项目可能在这些当地社区以高度的支持和成功得到很好的实施。
