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Acceptability of Infant Male Circumcision as Part of HIV Prevention and Male Reproductive Health Efforts in Gaborone, Botswana, and Surrounding Areas

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Abstract

Adult male circumcision reduces a man’s risk for heterosexual HIV acquisition. Infant circumcision is safer, easier and less costly but not widespread in southern Africa. Questionnaires were administered to sixty mothers of newborn boys in Botswana: 92% responded they would circumcise if the procedure were available in a clinical setting, primarily to prevent future HIV infection, and 85% stated the infant’s father must participate in the decision. Neonatal male circumcision appears to be acceptable in Botswana and deserves urgent attention in resource-limited regions with high HIV prevalence, with the aim to expand services in safe, culturally acceptable and sustainable ways.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge and thank Magdeline Mabuse for her help with this project. Dr. Plank’s efforts were supported by grants from the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene/Burroughs Wellcome Fund and from the Harvard University Program on AIDS.

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Correspondence to Rebeca M. Plank.

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Plank, R.M., Makhema, J., Kebaabetswe, P. et al. Acceptability of Infant Male Circumcision as Part of HIV Prevention and Male Reproductive Health Efforts in Gaborone, Botswana, and Surrounding Areas. AIDS Behav 14, 1198–1202 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-009-9632-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-009-9632-0

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