Thesis (MPhil (Sociology and Social Anthropology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / The purpose of this thesis is to attempt to understand the concept of manhood in the context of Xhosa-speaking people; and to investigate why it is significant for them to use traditional circumcision in the male initiation ritual. In the context of the research problem, the aim is to understand: i) why traditional circumcision is important in executing this ritual, ii) people’s beliefs about the concept of manhood, iii) how the initiation ritual is practised in the present day, iv) the controversy and debate around the initiation ritual in the Eastern Cape, and v) the role of the government’s policies in regulating this rite. In terms of research design and methodology, I used qualitative research. The sampling method includes non-probability sampling – that is purposive or judgmental sampling. In the research process I utilized individual interviews, focus group interviews, participant observation, and any literature that was relevant to this study. The field research was conducted in Mchubakazi Township in Butterworth, Eastern Cape. As regards the research findings, the following data came out: firstly, manhood refers to belonging to a group of men who live in a certain village. These men are characterised by having undergone the initiation ritual, especially using traditional circumcision. A man who has undergone hospital circumcision is more likely to experience humiliation and disrespect from the orthodox Xhosa-speakers. Their argument in support of this statement is that he is only half a man. Secondly, traditional circumcision is perceived as being significant in this ritual; it is a necessary adventure a male must go through in order to become a man. It is basically an act of courage. It is not necessarily compulsory in the process of transforming a boy into a man, but it is important for his image in the eyes of the community. Thirdly, the initiation ritual of Xhosa-speakers consists of four phases, namely: the ‘entering phase’ (umgeno), the phase of being an initiate (ubukhwetha), the ‘coming out phase’ (umphumo) and the phase of being a graduate (ubukrwala).

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Based on the significant evidence from the three African randomized controlled trials, the WHO and UNAIDS recommended in 2007 that medical male circumcision should be a priority HIV prevention intervention. The three randomized trials in Africa demonstrated that adult male circumcision decreases the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquisition in men between 51% to 60%, with long-term protective efficacy. This study intends to document and analyze the effectiveness of three communication interventions used in transferring knowledge about medical male circumcision as an HIV preventative strategy. Furthermore it also aims to determine which communication intervention will have the greatest effect in improving knowledge and understanding about medical male circumcision as an HIV preventative measure for implementation in future health promotion programmes. The research in this comparative study was conducted on a farm in the Overstrand sub-district of the Western Cape Province in South Africa, Haygrove Haven. A total of 30 male employees aged 18 to 45 was randomly selected to participate in the study. The data was collected using a self-administered pre-test questionnaire. In order to compare the pre- and post-test answers, the questions were repeated to determine the knowledge transfer after the respective information and training sessions. Analysis of the data was a simple process and limited to the necessary information to graph the required conclusions by using the computer programme Microsoft Excel 2010. The study looked at the statistical indicators of knowledge, perception and awareness of participants with regards to medical male circumcision as an HIV and AIDS prevention strategy. The findings exhibited that most people knew about MMC but very few had knowledge of the protective effect of the procedure against HIV acquisition and transmission. The study concluded that providing accurate information with fitting communication material at the right literacy levels, peoples’ knowledge of the benefits of medical male circumcision does increase. This will contribute to change the perception and therefore increase the acceptability of the procedure. This conforms to the subject of the WHO and UNAIDS 2007 study and can improve their findings. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In 2007 het die WGO en UNAIDS aanbeveel dat mediese manlike besnydenis ‘n prioriteit MIV-voorkomings program moet raak, wat gebaseer is op die beduidende bewyse van drie Afrika gerandomiseerde gekontroleerde proewe. Die drie gerandomiseerde proewe in Afrika toon dat volwasse manlike besnydenis verminder die menslike immuniteitsgebreksvirus (MIV) in mans met 51% tot 60%, met 'n langtermyn beskermende doeltreffendheid. Hierdie studie is van voorneme om die doeltreffendheid van drie kommunikasieintervensies wat gebruik word in die oordrag van kennis oor mediese manlike besnydenis as 'n MIV-voorkomende strategie, te dokumenteer en te analiseer. Verder stel dit ook ten doel om te bepaal watter kommunikasie-intervensie die grootste invloed in die verbetering van kennis en begrip oor mediese manlike besnydenis as 'n MIV-voorkomende maatreël, vir implementering in toekomstige gesondheidsbevorderingsprogramme. Die navorsing in hierdie vergelykende studie is uitgevoer op 'n plaas in die Overstrand-sub-distrik van die Wes-Kaap in Suid-Afrika, Haygrove Haven. 'n Totaal van 30 manlike werknemers tussen die ouderdomme 18 tot 45 is lukraak gekies om deel te neem aan die studie. Die data is ingesamel met behulp van 'n self-geadministreerde vraelys waar die pretoets vrae in die post-toets herhaal word, om die antwoorde met mekaar te vergelyk, om sodoende te bepaal watter opleidingsessie die grootste kennis oordrag laat plaasvind. Ontleding van die data is beperk en so eenvoudig as moontlik om die gevolgtrekkings te maak en grafies deur te gee deur gebruik te maak van die rekenaarprogram Microsoft Excel 2010. Die studie kyk na die statistiese aanwysers van kennis, persepsie en bewustheid van die deelnemers met betrekking tot mediese manlike besnydenis as 'n MIV-en VIGSvoorkoming strategie. Die bevindinge van die studie is dat die meeste mense bewus is van mediese manlike besnydenis, maar baie min kennis gehad het van die beskermende effek van die prosedure teen MIV verkryging en oordrag. Die studie het bevind dat die verskaffing van akkurate inligting met gepaste kommunikasie materiaal op die regte geletterdheidsvlakke, mense se kennis van die voordele van mediese manlike besnydenis kan laat toeneem. Dit is bydraend om ‘n individu se persepsie te verander en dus die aanvaarbaarheid van die prosedure te verhoog. Dit voldoen aan die onderwerp van die WHO en UNAIDS 2007 studie en kan sodoende hul bevindings verbeter.

MPH / Department of Public Health / Male circumcision is being promoted in University of Venda presently due to the South African recent awareness that it is a method of preventing the transmission of the Human Immunodeficiency virus. However, for effective implementation, it is necessary that the students believe in the procedure and have a positive attitude towards the procedure. Purpose of study The objective of the study was to assess the University of Venda male student knowledge and perception regarding male circumcision. Methodology Method to achieve this was a cross sectional quantitative study using anonymous questionnaire among the male students in university of Venda after obtaining their consent. Data was captured and analyzed using SPSS. Result A total of 285 male students participated in the study. Most of them (77.2%) were undergraduate below 30years of age (91.2%) while others were post graduate (22.8%). Majority of them are Christians (97.9%), singles (85.9%) and married (12.6%).Result obtained showed that most of the respondent (87.9%) are circumcised, only a minority few (12.1%) are not circumcised. As regards the meaning of male circumcision (75.2%) said that male circumcision is the complete removal of theforeskin. Majority of the respondents (86.6%) responded that circumcision is better than uncircumcision, showing a relatively good knowledge of benefits of male circumcision, one-third of the respondent (39.9% ,37.8%) showed a good knowledge regarding the merits of male circumcision as per reducing the rate of STIs and the risk of HIV/AIDS. Conclusion Conclusively,most of the University of Venda students have a good knowledge of male circumcision, only a few are not knowledgeable about male circumcision. Also a positive attitude was shownon male circumcision with only a few students showing a negative attitude.While majority of the respondents practice male circumcision.They also encourage their siblings to do so. Recommendations The study made a number of recommendations that were intended to improve knowledge, attitude and practice of male circumcision, it calls for long campaign to reach more uncircumcised Univen students in order to scale up male circumcision and train more personnel to administer the ritual safely and under more hygienic conditions.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts in Journalism and Media Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2016 / The research set out to investigate how the Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) programme in South Africa facilitated stakeholder participation in its communication processes to improve the uptake of services in the context of national targets. Studies reviewed have highlighted challenges in the implementation of the participatory model to achieve communication goals. This qualitative study used document analysis, in-depth interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) for data collection. The research has revealed other limiting factors including unequal opportunities to influence decisions as a result of varying levels of authority and access to mediated public spheres. While those with power end up being further empowered through participatory approaches in terms of voice and visibility, the representation of the inputs of the lower level stakeholder group is limited to head count. A five-day visit to a VMMC clinic in Alexandra Township attributes marginalisation by exclusion from decision-making processes as one of the reasons for people’s inability to translate knowledge into the positive public response. The study was inconclusive about the influence of the model on the actual service uptake because the purpose was to provide a textual description of the participants’ experiences and not the impact. / XL2018

Xhosa people practise the circumcision ritual. The exciting period is during the pre- circumcision. It is also the time when Xhosa teenage boys experience various problems associated with the ritual. The main purpose of the study was to explore and describe Xhosa teenage boys' experiences of the period prior to the circumcision ritual in East London in the Eastern Cape Province. A descriptive, exploratory and descriptive qualitative research design was followed and 28 participants volunteered to participate. In-depth phenomenological focus group interviews were conducted. Data analysis revealed two themes: social pressure on teenage Xhosa boys associated with the ritual, and depression associated with the treatment of teenage Xhosa boys by their communities. The study recommends that all stakeholders be involved in the performance of the ritual. A limitation of the study was failure to include stakeholders. The researcher recommends further research to involve all stakeholders of the ritual. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Based on the significant evidence from the three African randomized controlled trials, the WHO and UNAIDS recommended in 2007 that medical male circumcision should be a priority HIV prevention intervention. The three randomized trials in Africa demonstrated that adult male circumcision decreases the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquisition in men between 51% to 60%, with long-term protective efficacy. This study intends to document and analyze the effectiveness of three communication interventions used in transferring knowledge about medical male circumcision as an HIV preventative strategy. Furthermore it also aims to determine which communication intervention will have the greatest effect in improving knowledge and understanding about medical male circumcision as an HIV preventative measure for implementation in future health promotion programmes. The research in this comparative study was conducted on a farm in the Overstrand sub-district of the Western Cape Province in South Africa, Haygrove Haven. A total of 30 male employees aged 18 to 45 was randomly selected to participate in the study. The data was collected using a self-administered pre-test questionnaire. In order to compare the pre- and post-test answers, the questions were repeated to determine the knowledge transfer after the respective information and training sessions. Analysis of the data was a simple process and limited to the necessary information to graph the required conclusions by using the computer programme Microsoft Excel 2010. The study looked at the statistical indicators of knowledge, perception and awareness of participants with regards to medical male circumcision as an HIV and AIDS prevention strategy. The findings exhibited that most people knew about MMC but very few had knowledge of the protective effect of the procedure against HIV acquisition and transmission. The study concluded that providing accurate information with fitting communication material at the right literacy levels, peoples’ knowledge of the benefits of medical male circumcision does increase. This will contribute to change the perception and therefore increase the acceptability of the procedure. This conforms to the subject of the WHO and UNAIDS 2007 study and can improve their findings. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In 2007 het die WGO en UNAIDS aanbeveel dat mediese manlike besnydenis ‘n prioriteit MIV-voorkomings program moet raak, wat gebaseer is op die beduidende bewyse van drie Afrika gerandomiseerde gekontroleerde proewe. Die drie gerandomiseerde proewe in Afrika toon dat volwasse manlike besnydenis verminder die menslike immuniteitsgebreksvirus (MIV) in mans met 51% tot 60%, met 'n lang-termyn beskermende doeltreffendheid. Hierdie studie is van voorneme om die doeltreffendheid van drie kommunikasie-intervensies wat gebruik word in die oordrag van kennis oor mediese manlike besnydenis as 'n MIV-voorkomende strategie, te dokumenteer en te analiseer. Verder stel dit ook ten doel om te bepaal watter kommunikasie-intervensie die grootste invloed in die verbetering van kennis en begrip oor mediese manlike besnydenis as 'n MIV-voorkomende maatreël, vir implementering in toekomstige gesondheidsbevorderingsprogramme. Die navorsing in hierdie vergelykende studie is uitgevoer op 'n plaas in die Overstrand-sub-distrik van die Wes-Kaap in Suid-Afrika, Haygrove Haven. 'n Totaal van 30 manlike werknemers tussen die ouderdomme 18 tot 45 is lukraak gekies om deel te neem aan die studie. Die data is ingesamel met behulp van 'n self-geadministreerde vraelys waar die pre-toets vrae in die post-toets herhaal word, om die antwoorde met mekaar te vergelyk, om sodoende te bepaal watter opleidingsessie die grootste kennis oordrag laat plaasvind. Ontleding van die data is beperk en so eenvoudig as moontlik om die gevolgtrekkings te maak en grafies deur te gee deur gebruik te maak van die rekenaarprogram Microsoft Excel 2010. Die studie kyk na die statistiese aanwysers van kennis, persepsie en bewustheid van die deelnemers met betrekking tot mediese manlike besnydenis as 'n MIV-en VIGS-voorkoming strategie. Die bevindinge van die studie is dat die meeste mense bewus is van mediese manlike besnydenis, maar baie min kennis gehad het van die beskermende effek van die prosedure teen MIV verkryging en oordrag. Die studie het bevind dat die verskaffing van akkurate inligting met gepaste kommunikasie materiaal op die regte geletterdheidsvlakke, mense se kennis van die voordele van mediese manlike besnydenis kan laat toeneem. Dit is bydraend om ‘n individu se persepsie te verander en dus die aanvaarbaarheid van die prosedure te verhoog. Dit voldoen aan die onderwerp van die WHO en UNAIDS 2007 studie en kan sodoende hul bevindings verbeter.

Xhosa people practise the circumcision ritual. The exciting period is during the pre- circumcision. It is also the time when Xhosa teenage boys experience various problems associated with the ritual. The main purpose of the study was to explore and describe Xhosa teenage boys' experiences of the period prior to the circumcision ritual in East London in the Eastern Cape Province. A descriptive, exploratory and descriptive qualitative research design was followed and 28 participants volunteered to participate. In-depth phenomenological focus group interviews were conducted. Data analysis revealed two themes: social pressure on teenage Xhosa boys associated with the ritual, and depression associated with the treatment of teenage Xhosa boys by their communities. The study recommends that all stakeholders be involved in the performance of the ritual. A limitation of the study was failure to include stakeholders. The researcher recommends further research to involve all stakeholders of the ritual. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)