Factors influencing uptake of voluntary medical male circumcision by male adults in Kasipul sub-county

Abstract

This study was designed to establish the factors that influence the uptake of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) by adult Luo men in Kasipul Sub-County within Homa Bay County. The objectives of the study were to investigate the extent to which culture, level of education, accessibility of services, and demographic characteristics, influence the uptake of VMMC by adult Luo men in this region. The gap this study seeks to fill is to establish the reasons for the trend of low uptake among adult men of 25 years and above. This study is therefore significant as it reveals some important gaps that will be helpful to the relevant bodies, both governmental and NGOs in their effort to implement and to scale up this programme. Consequently the Luo community will benefit as the program will help reduce the rate of new HIV infection and control of the same. The basic assumption of the study was that the respondents answered questions truthfully and honestly and that the data collection instruments were valid and reliable. The study was supported by Diffusion of Innovations Theory, which attempts to explain how new ideas are adopted by a population. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design with qualitative and quantitative approaches to data collection. The target group were adult Luo men of between 25 and 49 years old in Kasipul Sub-County which is an estimated 10885 men. The sample size for this population was 370 men. Stratified random sampling method was applied in data collection where questionnaire and interview schedules were administered to the respondents by the researcher and research assistants. Data was analyzed through descriptive statistics, such as frequencies and percentages and thereafter presented using frequency distribution tables. Finally a summary of findings were given and the conclusions drawn from the investigations as well as recommendations given for both policy formulation and suggestions for further research.