Abstract:
Background: Male circumcision has been shown to reduce the risk of female to male
transmission of HIV. As there was low level of circumcision in Gambella and high
prevalence of HIV, this study intends to identify predictors of willingness to be circumcised
among male students of colleges of Gambella town.
Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among 314 respondents. Only
indigenous male respondents from four colleges were selected. Using simple random
sampling method samples were selected by spss generated random numbers. Data was
collected on March 27, 2006 E.C using self administered questionnaire. The study instrument
was adapted mainly considering health belief model (HBM). Data were analyzed using SPSS
version 16.0. For prediction analysis, the study used logistic regression and odds ratio (OR)
with 95% confidence interval (CI).
Results: The study findings showed adjusted more likely effect on willingness to be
circumcised for family monthly income of 500-1000 Ethiopia birr AOR (95% CI)
=2.804(1.032, 7.615) and for more than one thousand AOR (95% CI)=4.974(1.453,17.022),
knowledge AOR (95% CI)= 1.63(1.301, 2.043), perceived susceptibility AOR (95% CI) =
1.304(1.151, 1.477), perceived benefit AOR (95% CI)=1.151(1.07, 1.239), perceived barriers
AOR (95% CI)=1.096(1.022, 1.175), exposure to cues AOR (95% CI) = 1.574(1.03, 2.405).
Conclusion: The study revealed that 63.7% respondents were willing to be circumcised,
29.3% were not willing to be circumcised. Respondents perceived susceptibility, perceived
benefit, knowledge, exposure to cues and family monthly income would enhance willingness
to be circumcised. However, perceived barriers would negatively affect willingness to be
circumcised.
Recommendation: As the study showed 63.7% respondents were willing to be circumcised,
Gambella Regional Health Bureau should develop male circumcision campaigns and for
29.3% which were not willing to be circumcised, Regional Health Bureau and HAPCO
should develop IEC materials in local languages.
