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Promoters of male circumcision as a weapon against HIV will have to reckon with a Zulu belief that partial circumcision means better sex, according to researchers.
An article in the latest issue of the South African Medical Journal, reports that interviews in a rural community in KwaZulu-Natal revealed "rich traditional understandings" of male circumcision.
People had strong negative views on circumcision that involved removal of the foreskin. "These perceptions seem to originate in historical tensions between Zulus and the Xhosas regarding male circumcision," they said.
"In contrast to the Xhosa practice of full circumcision, Zulus traditionally promoted partial circumcision (ukugweda).
"Here, the foreskin is not removed, but an elastic band of tissue under the penis glans is cut, allowing the foreskin to move easily back and forth."
Partial circumcision preferred
The researchers, from the Human Sciences Research Council and the University of California, said men and women taking part in the interviews understood the difference between full and partial circumcision, but preferred ukugweda.
They felt it helped prevent infections, and helped avoid sensitivity and pain during sex.
"Participants felt that if the tissue under the penis glans is uncut, the foreskin is not able to move back and forth easily, which interferes with erection and causes the penis to bend downward painfully.
"A partial cut is believed to allow sperm to move freely and to enhance pleasure for men and women."
Not the same as ukugweda
The researchers said male circumcision was being widely promoted on the assumption that the term was unambiguous. However, their study showed a widely-held alternative meaning in the rural community where they conducted their interviews.
They said there was a need to distinguish between medical male circumcision, and its benefits, and ukugweda, whose HIV benefits were unknown.
"For successful uptake in these contexts, strategies to overcome historically negative cultural perceptions of male circumcision among Zulus, as well as positive associations of partial circumcision with enhanced sexual pleasure, are required," they said.
Trials in South Africa, Uganda and Kenya have shown that full circumcision has a dramatic effect in reducing HIV transmission. The World Health Organisation said in 2007 that there was "compelling evidence" that circumcision reduced heterosexually acquired HIV infection in men by about 60%.
It said male circumcision should be considered "an efficacious intervention". – (Sapa, September 2009)
Read more:
How a foreskin ups HIV risk
