Since the introduction of Medical Male Circumcision (MMC) to decrease the rate of HIV infections, health care workers have been at the forefront of implementing the service in line with the prescribed guidelines and protocols. From a health service implementation perspective, health care workers’ (i.e. health service providers and policy makers) are responsible for clinical aspects related to the delivery of this service and demand generation to promote uptake thereof. Research done on the uptake of MMC, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa, has revealed that the uptake of MMC in recent years has been sub-optimal, particularly in the target age of males between the ages of 18 to 49 years. Research also reveals that several factors need to be considered when attempting to scale up MMC; among these include individual perceptual factors, influence of peers and female partners and health system-related factors. The successful implementation of MMC to help achieve the stipulated targets in the relevant age groups is thus reliant on an understanding of these contextual factors that are said to hinder or promote the uptake of MMC. It has been noted that while research on the uptake of MMC has been conducted extensively among service users throughout Africa, there is little empirical evidence on the practice of implementing MMC, particularly in KZN, South Africa

In an attempt address this knowledge gap, Dr Themba Nxumalo at the University of KwaZulu-Natal conducted a study to analyse health care workers’ perceptions and experiences of implementing MMC in KZN, South Africa. The researcher found that health care service providers and policy makers were inadequately prepared nor adequately trained for implementing MMC. In addition, Health care service providers had generally negative perceptions and experiences regarding the practice of implementing MMC in KZN, South Africa. These findings suggest that health care workers may not buy-in to the service thus compromising uptake and the potential benefits thereof in terms of HIV prevention. Addressing the perceived skills deficits of health care workers should therefore be prioritised if successful scale up of MMC is to be achieved.

Written by Dr Themba Nxumalo, Professional Nurse: KZN Department of Health

DRILL Fellow from October 2017

Adapted from research publication (Reference):

Nxumalo C.T. & Mchunu G. An analysis of female Healthcare workers perceptions and experiences of implementing voluntary medical male circumcision in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, African Journal of Primary Healthcare and Family Medicine, 2020,12(1), 1-10

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