AIDS Behav. 2018 Feb;22(2):471-478. doi: 10.1007/s10461-017-1681-1.

Prevalence and Predictors of Uncircumcised, Kenyan Men's Desire for Circumcision for Their Infant Sons.

Hudson FP^1,^2,³, Miller WC^4,⁵, Rao S⁶, Agot K⁶, Thirumurthy H⁷.

Author information

1: Department of Internal Medicine, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, 1912 Speedway, SZB 546.05, Austin, TX, 78712, USA. Parker.hudson@austin.utexas.edu.
2: Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. Parker.hudson@austin.utexas.edu.
3: Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. Parker.hudson@austin.utexas.edu.
4: Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
5: Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
6: Impact Research and Development Organization, Kisumu, Kenya.
7: Department of Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.

Abstract

Men are key decision makers for their son's circumcision, so understanding their beliefs is important for the uptake of early infant male circumcision in countries in sub-Saharan Africa that have high HIV prevalence. We analyzed men's preferences for circumcising their sons using data from a population-representative survey of 1501 uncircumcised men aged 25-49 years in western Kenya. Most men (59%) reported they would "definitely" want their son circumcised if a son was born to them within the next year. However, only 25% intended to become circumcised themselves. In multivariable Poisson regression models to estimate prevalence ratios, key predictors of the desire to circumcise their sons included knowledge that circumcision reduces HIV acquisition, having a supportive partner, discussing circumcision with the partner, altruism, and intention to be circumcised himself. Focusing on partner dynamics may have the greatest capacity to increase demand since 55% had not talked to their partner about circumcision.