Determinants of choice of male circumcision methods among men in South Africa in 2012

Dineo Thaele, University of the Witwatersrand

Abstract Background: In South Africa medical male circumcision was introduced as a health intervention strategy against HIV/AIDS; and traditional male circumcision is a ritual that marks a passage to manhood. Male circumcision has been identified as a public health hazard associated with high complications and even deaths, however traditional male circumcision has higher documented adverse events. The South African government adopted the Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision campaign to increase medical male circumcision and aims to reach coverage of 80% by 2016. However traditional male circumcision remains a popular practise; in 2009 67% of males were traditionally circumcised; and 33% medically circumcised. Objective: The study aims to identify levels of traditional and medical circumcision and examine the relationship between personal, socio-economic and demographic factors associated with choice of male circumcision method. Methodology: Data source, Third National HIV Communication Survey 2012, for data analysis a multinomial probit logistic regression will be employed.