PERCEPTIONS OF MALE CIRCUMCISION AS A PREVENTIVE MEASURE AGAINST HIV INFECTION. A CASE STUDY OF BAGISHU MEN IN MBALE TOWN, EASTERN UGANDA.

Male circumcision has been proven In recent studies as one of the interventions that help in decreasing HIV transmission from infected women (or men) to uninfected men. The publicity of such studies has led to increased confidence among circumcised males to have unprotected sex in belief that they are shielded against acquiring HIV. The ministry of health in Uganda basing on such studies has embarked on a national strategy aimed at promoting and encouraging male circumcision as a preventive measure against HIV.
However despite such studies there is need to investigate the perceptions and beliefs of male circumcision especially in communities that have historical practiced it, for example amongst the Bagishu of Mbale in Uganda. Do they view male circumcision as an intervention of preventing HIV or simply as a cultural practice being adopted by others cultures and from their perspective what are the benefits of male circumcision. This study will be aimed at understanding the perceptions of male circumcision as an intervention against HIV using a case study of Bagishu men from Mbale Town in eastern Uganda.