The provision of health education regarding HIV/AIDS prevention among boys who undergo male circumcision at hospitals in the Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

Male circumcision has been practised traditionally as one of the initiation rites that prepare boys for manhood. The Primary focus for this initiation rite was sexuality education. However, concern exists regarding the safety and hygiene of traditional male circumcision. This concern has resulted in boys seeking medical assistance in large numbers at hospitals for medical male circumcision. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended male circumcision as an HIV/AIDS prevention strategy. This study aimed to determine the extent of health education pertaining to HIV/AIDS prevention provided to boys undergoing male circumcision in a hospital setting. A descriptive quantitative survey was used. The study applied convenience sampling for selecting 50 males, aged between 12 and 21 years from the Vhavenda ethnic group, who were undergoing male circumcision in hospitals A, B, and C in the Vhembe district. Data were collected through a self-designed standardised questionnaire administered through face-to-face interviews. The results of the study showed that the participants had a basic knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention and that provision of health education in hospitals was limited, as healthcare practitioners concentrated on the procedure namely male circumcision only. Re-orientation and sensitisation of healthcare providers on the importance of health education for providing more in-depth knowledge about HIV/AIDS and the role of male circumcision in HIV/AIDS prevention were also recommended.