Learning that circumcision is protective against HIV: risk compensation among men and women in Cape Town, South Africa.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

We examined whether knowledge of the HIV-protective benefits of male circumcision (MC) led to risk compensating behavior in a traditionally circumcising population in South Africa. We extend the current literature by examining risk compensation among women, which has hitherto been unexplored.

Methods

We used data on Xhosa men and women from the 2009 Cape Area Panel Study. Respondents were asked if they had heard that MC reduces a man's risk of contracting HIV, about their perceived risk of contracting HIV, and condom use. For each gender group we assessed whether risk perception and condom use differed by knowledge of the protective benefits of MC using bivariate and then multivariate models controlling for demographic characteristics, HIV knowledge/beliefs, and p

SUBMITTER: Maughan-Brown B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3400649 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature