Circumcision in South African Males vs Phillipino Males
Compare and contrast the attitudes, beliefs and perspectives around a specific health issue amongst two different population groups, and consider the implications of this for clinical or community practice.
Introduction
A controversial health issue around the world is male circumcision. Male circumcision is the removal of part of or the entire foreskin on the penis and is a controversial topic in many countries and across many different religions. In this essay the beliefs, attitudes and perspectives of South African men will be compared those of Filipino men about medical male circumcision and traditional male circumcision. Traditional circumcisions are usually performed outside of formal medical settings by providers who have a special training but are not health care professionals. Medical circumcision alternatively is performed by a medical professional in a medical setting. According to the world health organisation (WHO), 30% of men worldwide have been circumcised, mostly in developing countries where it takes place for religious and cultural reasons (World Health Organisation [WHO], 2007a). Male circumcision is an important issue, especially in South Africa and the Philippines, as third world countries as it can be uses as a partial preventative measure against HIV infection.
Description of population groups
The two population groups I chose were South African men and Filipino men. I chose South African men as one of my population groups because while studying circumcision I noticed there was a lot of literature on the topic in relation to South Africa and surrounding nations and the effects it has on preventing HIV transmission. I found this population group interesting because in South Africa even though there is clear benefits in reducing HIV transmission and great publicity around the benefits only 35% of men were circumcised (WHO, 2007a). Furthermore in researching this topic I discovered multiple reasons why men chose to get circumcised, one
Introduction
A controversial health issue around the world is male circumcision. Male circumcision is the removal of part of or the entire foreskin on the penis and is a controversial topic in many countries and across many different religions. In this essay the beliefs, attitudes and perspectives of South African men will be compared those of Filipino men about medical male circumcision and traditional male circumcision. Traditional circumcisions are usually performed outside of formal medical settings by providers who have a special training but are not health care professionals. Medical circumcision alternatively is performed by a medical professional in a medical setting. According to the world health organisation (WHO), 30% of men worldwide have been circumcised, mostly in developing countries where it takes place for religious and cultural reasons (World Health Organisation [WHO], 2007a). Male circumcision is an important issue, especially in South Africa and the Philippines, as third world countries as it can be uses as a partial preventative measure against HIV infection.
Description of population groups
The two population groups I chose were South African men and Filipino men. I chose South African men as one of my population groups because while studying circumcision I noticed there was a lot of literature on the topic in relation to South Africa and surrounding nations and the effects it has on preventing HIV transmission. I found this population group interesting because in South Africa even though there is clear benefits in reducing HIV transmission and great publicity around the benefits only 35% of men were circumcised (WHO, 2007a). Furthermore in researching this topic I discovered multiple reasons why men chose to get circumcised, one
References: Connolly, C., Simbayi, L. C., Shanmugam, R., & Nqeketo, A. (2008). Male circumcision and its relationship to HUV infection in South Africa: Results from a nation survey in 2002. South African Medical Journal, 98 (1), 789-794. Lee, R. B. (2006). Filipino experience of ritual male circumcision: Knowledge and insight for anti-circumcision advocacy. Culture, Health & Sexuality: An International Journal for Research, Intervention and Care, 8(3), 225-234. doi:10.1080/13691050600761243 Mavundla,T. R., Netswera, F. G., Bottoman, B., & Toth, F. (2009). Rationalization of Indigenous Male Circumcision as a Sacred Religious Custom: Health Beliefs of Xhosa Men in South Africa. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 20(4), 395-405. doi:10.1177/1043659609340801 Peltzer, K., & Kanta, X. (2009). Medical circumcision and manhood initiation rituals in the Eastern Cape, South Africa: a post intervention evaluation. Culture, Health & Sexuality: An International Journal for Research, Intervention and Care, 11(1), 83-97. Retrieved from http://www.tandfonline.com.ezproxy.lib.monash.edu.au/doi/pdf/10.1080/13691050802389777 World Health Organisation. ( 2007a). Information package on male circumcision and HIV prevention. Geneva: World Health Organisation. World Health Organisation. ( 2011). Progress in scale-up of male circumcision for HIV prevention in Eastern and Southern Africa. Geneva: World Health Organisation.