HIV Risk Perception and Behaviours Among Circumcised and Uncircumcised Adult Males in Mbarara District, Uganda

Background: Male circumcision has since 2010 been implemented in Mbarara and Uganda at large to reduce the continued Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome epidemic among the general population. However, there is some concern that male circumcision may lead to low-risk perception and more risky sexual behaviour. This study, therefore, investigated Human Immunodeficiency Virus risk perception and risk behaviours among adult males who have undergone male circumcision compared to those that had not been circumcised in Mbarara District, Uganda. Methods: A household-based cross-sectional study was conducted among an adult male population of diverse circumcision status. A total of 384 adult males were enrolled in the study. Questionnaires were used to obtain the data. Data were analyzed using STATA 15. Descriptive statistics followed by chi-square tests and binary logistic regression were used. Results: Adult males with high HIV risk perception were less likely to be circumcised (aOR=0.3, 95%CI: 0.14-0.80, p<0.05) compared to their circumcised adult male counterparts. Male adults that reported engagement in transaction sex in the past 12 months were 3.8 times more likely to be circumcised (aOR=3.8, 95% CI: 1.04-13.56, p<0.05). Male adults with 1-3 sexual partners were 4.9 times more likely to be circumcised (aOR=4.9, 95% CI: 1.05-22.23, p<0.05) while those with 4 or more sexual partners were 5.5 times more likely to be circumcised (aOR=5.5, 95% CI: 1.79-40.05, p<0.01) compared to those male adults who reported no sexual partner in the past 12 months. Conclusions: Circumcised adult males showed a low indication of high HIV risk perception, more transactional sex and more multiple sexual partners compared to uncircumcised males.