Peltzer K., Nqeketo A., Petros G., Kanta X.
Health Systems Research Unit, Social Aspect of HIV/AIDS and Health, Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Psychology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Impilo Ya Bantu Health, Lusikisiki, South Africa
Peltzer, K., Health Systems Research Unit, Social Aspect of HIV/AIDS and Health, Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa, Department of Psychology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Nqeketo, A., Health Systems Research Unit, Social Aspect of HIV/AIDS and Health, Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa; Petros, G., Health Systems Research Unit, Social Aspect of HIV/AIDS and Health, Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa; Kanta, X., Impilo Ya Bantu Health, Lusikisiki, South Africa
Background. Circumcisions undertaken in non-clinical settings can have significant risks of serious adverse events, including death. The aim of this study was to test an intervention for safe traditional circumcision in the context of initiation into manhood among the Xhosa, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Methods. Traditional surgeons and nurses registered with the health department were trained over five days on ten modules including safe circumcision, infection control, anatomy, post-operative care, detection and early management of complications and sexual health education. Initiates from initiation schools of the trained surgeons and nurses were examined and interviewed on 2 nd, 4th, 7th and 14th day after circumcision. Results. From 192 initiates physically examined at the 14th day after circumcision by a trained clinical nurse high rates of complications were found: 40 (20.8%) had mild delayed wound healing, 31 (16.2%) had a mild wound infection, 22 (10.5%) mild pain and 20 (10.4%) had insufficient skin removed. Most traditional surgeons and nurses wore gloves during operation and care but did not use the recommended circumcision instrument. Only 12% of the initiates were circumcised before their sexual debut and they reported a great deal of sexual risk behaviour. Conclusion. Findings show weak support for scaling up traditional male circumcision. © 2008 Peltzer et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
adolescent; adult; article; circumcision; controlled study; demography; health behavior; health program; health service; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; infection control; infection risk; male; patient assessment; patient care; postoperative care; postoperative complication; postoperative hemorrhage; postoperative infection; postoperative period; risk assessment; sexual behavior; sexual education; South Africa; surgeon; surgical technique; African medicine; circumcision; community health nursing; cultural anthropology; education; ethnology; evaluation; instrumentation; postoperative complication; safety; South Africa; surgery; Adolescent; Circumcision, Male; Culture; Humans; Infection Control; Male; Medicine, African Traditional; Postoperative Complications; Public Health Nursing; Safety; South Africa; Surgery