Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the beliefs of medical university students regarding male circumcision (MC), as well as attitudes and the predictors of its promotion in the case of adults at risk of HIV. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between 2013–2016 at the Medical University in Szczecin, Poland, among final year Polish/foreign students from Northern Europe, using a standardized questionnaire. Results: There were 539 participants, median age 25 years, 40.8% males, and 66.8% were Polish nationals. The MC rate was 16.7%. Regarding HIV/AIDS knowledge, 66.6% of the students scored more than 75%; and, 34.2% knew that MC reduces the risk of HIV infection. One in eleven respondents (9.1%) believed that circumcised men felt more intense sexual pleasure. More than half of the respondents (54.8%) declared that they would recommend MC to adult patients at risk for HIV. The belief that circumcised men felt more intense sexual pleasure, and knowledge on MC regarding HIV risk reduction was associated with greater odds of recommending adult MC (OR = 3.35 and OR = 2.13, respectively). Conclusions: Poor knowledge of its benefits and a low willingness to promote the procedure—strongly dependent on personal beliefs—suggest that medical students may need additional training to help them to discuss MC more openly with adult men at risk for HIV infection. Knowledge may be an effective tool when making decisions regarding MC promotion.
Highlights
It is important to tackle HIV transmission by using strategies that may improve population health; and this includes male circumcision (MC)
Three large randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted in African countries have shown that MC reduces the risk of acquiring HIV through heterosexual intercourse in males by 51–60% [1], and has been associated with a decreased risk of acquiring human papillomavirus, syphilis, and urinary tract infections [2,3]
Overall HIV/AIDS knowledge was high, only about one-third of participants knew that MC reduces the chance of HIV infection
Summary
It is important to tackle HIV transmission by using strategies that may improve population health; and this includes male circumcision (MC). Three large randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted in African countries have shown that MC reduces the risk of acquiring HIV through heterosexual intercourse in males by 51–60% [1], and has been associated with a decreased risk of acquiring human papillomavirus, syphilis, and urinary tract infections [2,3]. These findings are currently being taken into account with regards to health recommendations and policy proposals. MC is a procedure that can be performed during infancy, and in adolescence or adulthood [4].
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