Interpersonal influences in the scale-up of male circumcision services in a traditionally non-circumcising community in rural western Kenya
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Publication Date
2011-01Author
AFXO Obure, Erick O Nyambedha, BO Oindo
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Show full item recordAbstract/ Overview
Promoting male circumcision (MC) is now recognized as an additional, important strategy for the
prevention of heterosexually acquired HIV infection in men, and plans are underway to scale-up this
intervention especially in non-circumcising communities, with generalized HIV pandemic. This
qualitative study identifies and characterizes the role of social and interpersonal factors in the scale-up of
MC services in a rural non-circumcising community in western Kenya. Twenty-four sex-specific focus
group discussions were conducted with a purposive sample of Luo men and women (15-34 years). Peer
and youth groups, girlfriends and women, parents, and cultural political, religious, school leaders were
identified as key influences in the scale-up of MC services. The study concludes that social and
interpersonal forces create opportunities and constraints for scaling up the MC intervention. Planners of
MC projects should therefore harness the power of informal networks and social structures to enhance
community engagement, motivate behaviour change and increase demand for MC services.