Assoc. Prof. Peter Mathews Mhagama

Assoc. Prof. Peter Mathews Mhagama

Author

Language & Communication Studies

10 publications

Dr Peter Mhagama is Associate Professor in the department of Language and Communication at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences, formerly University of Malawi, the Polytechnic. He holds a PhD in Mass Communication research obtained in 2015 from the University of Leicester in the UK...

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Communication-related factors influencing uptake of voluntary medical male circumcision among men in Lilongwe urban, Malawi.

Journal Article
Published 1 year ago, 345 views
Author
Assoc. Prof. Peter Mathews Mhagama
Co-authors
Patrick Makono, Chimwemwe Tsitsi, Assoc. Prof. Peter Mathews Mhagama
Abstract
Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) has been promoted as an effective biomedical intervention in the reduction of the risk of new HIV and STI infections. The government of Malawi and its stakeholders including the World Health Organization have committed a lot of resources to VMMC programming. However, research shows that its uptake among men is still low in Malawi. This study, therefore, investigated the communication-related factors that influence decision-making in the uptake of VMMC among men in Lilongwe, Malawi. To achieve this aim, twenty-five men, aged between 18 and 35 years old were interviewed on what influenced them to undergo VMMC. The study found that the respondents were influenced to uptake VMMC mostly by peer pressure and the need for conformity; partner/girlfriend demand and considerations; and advice from health personnel. The paper concludes that although the final decision was theirs to make, the men in the study underwent circumcision under duress and/or coercion. It cannot be said to be voluntary. The medical necessity of VMMC can be said to be voluntary if it is negotiated and consented to without duress. Although the respondents mentioned the HIV and STI infection risk reduction properties, hygienic advantages, and cervical cancer reduction properties of VMMC as benefits of VMMC, these had very little influence on their decision. It is recommended that current intervention messages be reviewed and modified to incorporate new ideas that can address the shortcomings that the current crop of messages has with the aim of increasing the uptake of VMMC programmes or other health focused behaviour change programmes.
Year of Publication
2021
Journal Name
Cogent Medicine
Volume
8
Issue
1
Page Numbers
1-12
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