A comparison between traditional and modern circumcision practices in the prevention of HIV and other STIs transmission in Chavuma and Kapiri Mposhi districts.
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Date
2023
Authors
Gosa, Clive
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
The study made a comparison between traditional and modern circumcision practices in the prevention of HIV and other STIs transmission in Chavuma and Kapiri Mposhi districts.
Zambia is a multi-cultural society, characterized by different racial, ethnic, religious, and traditional groupings. These have significant potential for promoting good health. The report by Vern and Bonnie of 1994 documents that, circumcision is the surgical removal of the skin that normally covers and protects the head of the penis. To curb HIV and other STIs pandemic among the citizenry and in line with the UNAIDS 90-90-90 strategy, Zambia’s Health Policy of 1991 advocates for safe voluntary medical male circumcision. The health policy also recognizes the efforts made by traditional practitioners in reducing the disease burden in the country through established traditional institutions (THPAZ). In Zambia, all ten (10) provinces offer a package of male circumcision services in the health facilities. In The North-Western Province, traditional circumcision is practiced among the Luvales, Chokwes, Luchazis and Lundas. Despite such efforts, STIs and HIV transmission are still common in Zambia.
The overall objective of this study was to compare the extent to which traditional and modern circumcision practices prevent the transmission of HIV and other STIs in Chavuma and Kapiri Mposhi districts. The specific objectives were: i) to compare the extent to which traditional and modern circumcision practices prevent HIV transmission. ii) and to compare the extent to which traditional and modern circumcision practices prevent other STIs apart from HIV against transmission.
The study used snowball, convenience (purposive), and quasi-random sampling in selecting the sample. The study had a total sample size of 260 participants. Out of this, 100 participants were men circumcised in hospitals and clinics. The health workers were 30, while 10 participants were elderly members of the ethnic groups and 10 traditional circumcisers. ten (10) headmen were included and men traditionally circumcised were 100. The study used both Qualitative and Quantitative Designs. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis, while Quantitative data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).
The study concluded that, i) whereas HIV is a virus, an STI is actually an infection that is transmissible through sexual encounters; ii) in both practices, circumcision, to a larger extent, prevented HIV transmission; iii) the main routes to the HIV transmission were: blood mix-up procedures, unprotected sexual intercourses, using unsterilized instruments; iv) there was still a chance of STIs acquisition after circumcision, and the main routes to the STIs transmission included, sexual activities; v) circumcision performed under traditional and modern practices was not efficacious in the prevention of STIs transmission; vi) the incidence and prevalence of STIs were not impacted by the benefits of circumcision; vii) circumcision was associated with significantly increased STIs risk among circumcised men with known common STIs (gonorrhea, chancroid and syphilis);
Further, the study concluded that, viii) sterilization of surgical instruments was done under modern practice, while the use of unsterilized surgical instruments and blood mix-up procedures were noted under traditional practice; ix) only certified professional staff with a special circumcision training were eligible to perform circumcision under modern and not under traditional practice. x) Although the objective of attaining the HIV epidemic control is being actualized as evidenced by the study through the male circumcision program, the study concluded that high prevalence of STIs after circumcision still exist, and hence, there is need to attain the goal of zero new sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Chavuma and Kapiri Mposhi districts.
Description
PhD dissertation
Keywords
Male circumcision. , Female circumcision. , Traditional and modern circumcision. , HIV infections--Africa, Eastern--Prevention. , HIV infections--Africa, Southern--Prevention. , Youth--Health and hygiene--Africa, Eastern. , Youth--Health and hygiene--Africa, Southern.