Sibiya Mbalenhle, Laher Fatima, Mulaudzi Mamakiri, Makhale Lerato M, Salami Taibat, Hornschuh Stefanie, Tieu Hong-Van, Dietrich Janan J
Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
J Coll Med S Afr. 2024 Sep 30;2(1):58. doi: 10.4102/jcmsa.v2i1.58. eCollection 2024.
Male circumcision has health benefits and cultural significance in South Africa and elsewhere. We sought to understand perceptions about male circumcision among participants enrolled in a preventive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine efficacy trial in South Africa.
We conducted a qualitative study with 28 consenting people aged 18-35 years old who self-reported that they were not living with HIV and who were participating in the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) 702 vaccine efficacy trial in Soweto. Using a semi-structured guide, we facilitated four focus group discussions (FGDs) stratified by age, gender and sexual orientation. Focus group discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, translated into English and thematically analysed.
Four main themes emerged: (1) accurate knowledge about what male circumcision is, with some participants stating that it partially reduces acquisition of HIV and sexually transmitted infections; (2) emerging distrust of cultural circumcision because of perceived lack of transparency and adverse events; (3) misperceptions that circumcision boosted masculinity and (4) the influenced of parents, family and female partners in circumcision decision-making.
Young South African HIV vaccine trial participants accurately understand the HIV prevention benefits of male circumcision, but uptake decisions are embedded within a context informed by culture, sexuality, masculinity norms and values and the influence of women.
In this study, we showed that young South Africans participating in HIV vaccine trials instead embed their circumcision uptake decisions within a context informed by culture, sexuality and masculinity norms and values and influence of women.
在南非及其他地区，男性包皮环切术具有健康益处和文化意义。我们试图了解参与南非一项预防性人类免疫缺陷病毒（HIV）疫苗疗效试验的参与者对男性包皮环切术的看法。
我们对28名年龄在18至35岁之间、自我报告未感染HIV且参与索韦托HIV疫苗试验网络（HVTN）702疫苗疗效试验的参与者进行了定性研究。我们使用半结构化指南，组织了四次按年龄、性别和性取向分层的焦点小组讨论（FGD）。焦点小组讨论进行了录音，逐字转录，翻译成英文并进行了主题分析。
出现了四个主要主题：（1）对男性包皮环切术是什么有准确的认识，一些参与者表示它能部分降低感染HIV和性传播感染的风险；（2）由于认为缺乏透明度和不良事件，对文化包皮环切术的信任度在下降；（3）误解包皮环切术能增强男子气概；（4）父母、家庭和女性伴侣在包皮环切术决策中的影响。
参与HIV疫苗试验的南非年轻人准确理解男性包皮环切术对预防HIV的益处，但接受包皮环切术的决定是在文化、性取向、男子气概规范和价值观以及女性影响的背景下做出的。
在本研究中，我们表明参与HIV疫苗试验的南非年轻人将他们接受包皮环切术的决定置于文化、性取向、男子气概规范和价值观以及女性影响的背景之下。
