Factors influencing decision to seek medical male circumcision services in Uganda (using UDHS Data)

Abstract

Circumcision of men has been linked to a reduced risk of HIV transmission from women to men (Williams et al. 2006; WHO and UNAIDS 2007). Despite the fact that the circumcision rate in Uganda has increased, there is a significant disparity in the prevalence of circumcision across the country by region. The uptake of male medical circumcision in Uganda has remained significantly low. This study examines the factors influencing decision to Seek Medical Male Circumcision Services in Uganda. The study was based on secondary analysis of the 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) data. The data was retrieved with permission from MEASURE DHS. The UGMR7BFL file for men records was selected from the list of files to assist in investigating factors influencing decision to seek medical male circumcision among men in Uganda. Uptake of male medical circumcision was highly widespread among Anglicans, Muslims, the highly educated, those that belonged to areas that embraced circumcision prior, those with intention to have more children, the averagely younger in age but lower among the visually impaired and among those with no level of education. Ugandans must be encouraged to join and feel connected to their religious affiliations, seek male medical care for their own and their spouses' health, enroll their children, cousins, and other relatives in school in order for them to obtain some level of education. Further, this study has encouraged married men to undergo male medical circumcision through their spouses in order to increase their chances of having more children in the future, widespread sensitization is required to encourage people to participate in the practice in order to stay reproductively healthy and stronger, boost their chances of having more children, and enjoy sex activities.