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Zambian Parents’ Perspectives on Early-Infant Versus Early-Adolescent Male Circumcision

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Abstract

Despite increasing interest in Early-Infant and Early-Adolescent Medical Circumcision (EIMC and EAMC, respectively) in Zambia, parental willingness to have their sons undergo the procedure has not been explored. This study describes Zambian parents’ perspectives on EIMC and EAMC. A total of N = 600 men and women (n = 300 couples) were recruited. Most parents, 89% and 83%, planned to have their newborn or adolescent sons circumcised, respectively, and 70% and 57% had plans for EIMC and EAMC, respectively. Most (91% for infants and 86% for adolescents) reported they were considering the pros and cons of circumcision. Parents’ age (OR 1.05), having children living in one’s home (OR 3.58), and lower education (OR 0.63) were associated with sons’ circumcision. The minimal risks associated with circumcision and the lifetime benefits conferred underscore its contribution to public health in high HIV prevalence areas.

Resumen

A pesar del creciente interés en la Circuncisión Médica Temprana de Niños y Adolescentes (EIMC y EAMC, respectivamente, por su siglas en ingles) en Zambia, no se ha explorado la voluntad de los padres, de dar consentimiento, para que sus hijos se sometan al procedimiento. Este studio, describe las perspectivas de los padres de Zambia sobre EIMC y EAMC. Se reclutaron un total de N = 600 hombres y mujeres (n = 300 parejas) que esperaban tener un hijo. La mayoría de los padres, 89% y 83%, planeaban circuncidar a sus hijos recién nacidos o adolescentes, respectivamente, y 70% y 57% tenían planes para EIMC y EAMC, respectivamente. La mayoría (91% para bebés y 86% para adolescentes) informaron que estaban considerando las ventajas y desventajas de la circuncisión. La edad de los padres (OR 1,05), tener hijos viviendo en el hogar (OR 3,58) y menor educación (OR 0,63) se asociaron con la circuncisión de los hijos. Los riesgos mínimos asociados con la circuncisión y los beneficios conferidos de por vida subrayan su contribución a la salud pública en áreas de alta prevalencia del VIH.

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Funding

This study was funded by National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Mental Health (NIH/NIMH) (R01MH095539) with support from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Center for AIDS Research funded by NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) (P30AI073961). VJR’s work on this study was partially supported by a Ford Foundation Fellowship, administered by the National Academies of Science, a PEO Scholar Award from the PEO Sisterhood, and a grant from the NIH of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R36MH127838. The funding agency had no role in the study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the paper for publication. The NIH/NIMH, NASEM, and PEO had no role in the design and conduct of the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA

    Violeta J. Rodriguez, Stephen M. Weiss & Deborah L. Jones

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA

    Violeta J. Rodriguez

  3. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA

    Lucila Hernández

  4. University of Lusaka, Lusaka, Zambia

    Kasonde Bowa

  5. Ministry of Health, Provincial Health Office, Ndola, Copperbelt, Zambia

    Robert Zulu

  6. Department of Health Promotion and Education, University of Zambia, School of Public Health, Lusaka, Zambia

    Robert Zulu

  7. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Dominion Towers Suite 404, 1400 NW 10Th Avenue, Miami, FL, 33136, USA

    Deborah L. Jones

Authors
  1. Violeta J. Rodriguez
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  2. Stephen M. Weiss
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  3. Lucila Hernández
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  4. Kasonde Bowa
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  5. Robert Zulu
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  6. Deborah L. Jones
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Correspondence to Deborah L. Jones.

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All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Rodriguez, V.J., Weiss, S.M., Hernández, L. et al. Zambian Parents’ Perspectives on Early-Infant Versus Early-Adolescent Male Circumcision. AIDS Behav 27, 1800–1806 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-022-03912-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-022-03912-1

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