Paul C. Hewett|Nicole Haberland|Louis Apicella|Barbara Mensch
The (Mis)Reporting of Male Circumcision Status among Men and Women in Zambia and Swaziland: A Randomized Evaluation of Interview Methods
National HIV/AIDS/STI/TB Council|Population Council|Population Council|Population Council
date male circumcision prevalence estimated using surveys men selfreporting circumcision status hiv prevention trials observational studies involving female participants also collect data partners circumcision status risk factor hivstis number studies indicate reports circumcision status may inaccurate study assessed different methods improving self partner reporting circumcision statusthe study conducted urban rural zambia urban swaziland men n 1264 aged 1850 female partners n 1264 boys n 840 aged 1317 enrolled participants recruited hiv counseling testing sites health centers surrounding communities study experimentally assessed methods improving reporting circumcision status including simple description circumcision b detailed description circumcision c illustration circumcised uncircumcised penis computerized selfinterviewing selfreports compared visual examination men error reporting largely unidirectional uncircumcised men often reported circumcised 27 depending setting fewer circumcised men misrepresented status 0055 misreporting women significantly higher 1115 error directions sizable number women reported know partners circumcision status 38 computerized interviewing improve accuracy providing illustration particularly illiterate participants significantly improved reporting circumcision status decreasing misreporting among illiterate participants 13 10 although misreporting eliminatedstudy results suggest prevalence circumcision may overestimated zambia swaziland error reporting higher among women among men improved reporting description illustration provided suggests source error lack understanding male circumcision