Benefits and Barriers to the Uptake of Safe Male Circumcision among Young Men Aged 15-24 in Rhino Camp Refugees Settlement, Arua District, Uganda.

Abstract

Up to date, only about 25% of males in Uganda are circumcised, yet Safe Male Circumcision (SMC) reduces the risk of HIV transmission by 60%. HIV prevalence in Uganda among people aged 15 to 64 is 6.2%, and 4.7% among males. Information about SMC among refugees aged between 15 -24 is inadequate which instigated this study. Across-sectional survey that utilized a mixed methodology approach was conducted among 378 young men aged 15 to 24 who were selected randomly and purposively to engage in focus group discussions and a semi-structured questionnaire. Correlations and binary regression were used to analyze the variable of interest at 95% confidence levels of utilization of SMC, benefits, and barriers. The prevalence of SMC uptake was 42.1%) (159/378). Its’ perceived benefits included reduction of cervical cancer among spouses and reduction in sexually transmitted infections among men including genital warts and penile cancer. About 72.6% of the barriers to SMS uptake were attributed to the likelihood of developing meatitis, while 74.2% was due to pain and 27.9% was due to discomfort. Young men in Rhino Camp Refugees’ Settlement anticipate great benefits from SMC which are both spousal and self-targeting however; the barriers continue to halt them. Dissemination of information, sensitization, and demystification about the perceived barriers could increase uptake and eventually reduce HIV prevalence.