Views and Sentiments of Teenage Boys on Male Circumcision in the Advent of HIV and AIDS in Masvingo South Rural Community in Zimbabwe

The article was an exploration of the views and sentiments of teenage boys in Masvingo South rural community on male circumcision as an HIV and AIDS transmission mitigation measure. The researchers got primed to undertake the research study by the fact that studies have established that male circumcision, among other benefits, is 60% efficient in curbing the spread of HIV and AIDS. Theoretically, the study was informed by Vygotsky's socio-cultural theory and Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory. The descriptive survey research design was used with individual interviews as the key data gathering instruments. A sample of 80 teenage males in the 15 -19 year age range was purposively chosen in Masvingo South rural community. The majority of the respondents expressed negative attitude towards undergoing male circumcision for medical reasons. The respondents' limited information, the imagined pain associated with male circumcision and some cultural considerations to some extent accounted for their negative sentiments. A small proportion of the respondents revealed attitudinal neutrality regarding the adoption of male circumcision for medical reason. The researchers arrived at the conclusion that there is need to continue devising ways of making people aware of the crucial role of male circumcision in mitigating the spread of HIV and AIDS. Male circumcision should not be viewed as a cultural or religious preserve of some tribal groups since it has now gained a new status as a lifesaving medical practice.