Knowledge, attitudes and practices associated with uptake of  voluntary male medical circumcision at Tsabango and Kaliyeka secondary schools

Alufandika, Abigail

Knowledge, attitudes and practices associated with uptake of voluntary male medical circumcision at Tsabango and Kaliyeka secondary schools

Date

2021-06-16

Authors

Alufandika, Abigail

Publisher

Kamuzu University of Health Sciences

Abstract

Type of study The study will use a quantitative approach with a descriptive cross-sectional research design. Background Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) has been shown to reduce the risk of female to male transmission of HIV by up to 60%. Following recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO), Malawi adopted VMMC as an additional HIV prevention strategy. The youth were considered as a cost-effective target population for VMMC, however, the youths’ uptake has been low despite all the benefits and efforts to scale up. Consequently, this has resulted in high incidence of HIV and STI’s. Therefore, this study has been designed to determinethe knowledge attitude and practices that can influence uptake of VMMC among the youth. Problem to be studied. VMMC has been proven to be the most effective HIV preventive method which reduces HIV transmission by 60%, however only 6% of the youth within the age ranges of 15 to 24 in central region were reported to have undergone VMMC. Additionally, in Lilongwe, only 4.8% VMMCs were conducted among the youth aged 15 to 24. This is below the WHO/UNAIDS VMMC target coverage, which states that 90% of the youth should get VMMC services in all priority countries. Therefore, this study will help to identify the knowledge attitudes and practices associated with the uptake of VMMC among the youth. Objectives The study objectives will help to determine knowledge, attitude and practices affecting VMMC uptake among the youth at Kaliyeka and Tsabango Secondary Schools. The objectives will assess the youths’ knowledge of VMMC as HIV preventive intervention, explore of the youth’s attitudes towards VMMC, identifying their practices in relation to HIV and VMMC as well as determining challenges that can hinder VMMC uptake among the youth. Method A quantitative, descriptive cross-sectional study will be conducted at Kaliyeka and Tsabango Secondary Schools where a structured, self-administered questionnaire will be used to collect data from participants on knowledge attitudes and practices that influence VMMC uptake among 201 randomly selected youth. The study population will be male participants aged 15–24 years. Ethical clearance to conduct the study will be sought from College of Medicine Research and Ethics Committee (COMREC) through Kamuzu College of Nursing. Permission to conduct the study at Kaliyeka and Tsabango secondary schools will be from the Education Division Manager(EDM) and the Head teacher. Written informed consent will be obtained from the participants before enrolment into the study. The rights, the purpose, benefits and risks of the study will be explained to the eligible participants who meet the inclusion criteria. To ensure confidentiality and anonymity, codes will be used on the questionnaire and entering of data in the computerized database. No individual identities will be used in any presentations or publications resulting from thestudy. All records will be kept safely and only accessible to the authorised personnel. Data will be entered, and analysis will be done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 22. Software. The expected results of the study will assist in finding out new strategies of implementing VMMC as an intervention for HIV prevention among the youth as well as improving its uptake. Dissemination of results After analysis, the study results will be communicated to COMREC, KCN, the EDM(CWED), Kaliyeka secondary school, Tsabango secondary school, in nursing conferences and through publications.