Understanding and addressing socio-cultural barriers to medical male circumcision

This study looks at the barriers and facilitators to programmatic implementation in traditionally non-circumcising communities in Africa. In this study, the authors attempt to develop a fuller understanding of the role of cultural issues in the acceptance of adult circumcision. Four focus-group discussions were conducted with 28 participants in Mutoko, Zimbabwe, and 33 participants in Vulindlela, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, as well as 19 key informant interviews in both settings. The results showed that adult MMC-promotional messages that create a synergy between understandings of both traditional and medical circumcision will be more successful in these communities.