'I was circmcised in my uncle's coconut plantation': location and techniques of penile cutting in Papua New Guinea

摘要

There are a plethora of penile cutting styles, penile cutting techniques and penile cutting locations present across the more than 800 cultural/language groups in Papua New Guinea. The 'Acceptability of Male Circumcision for HIV Prevention in PNG' study is documenting diverse penile cutting practices at four study sites.\ud\udAcross the four sites between one third and two thirds of men reported having some form of penile cutting, with the majority having some form of longitudinal cut of the foreskin performed outside the medical system. Many men from cultural groups that cut the foreskin describe having their foreskin cut in or near a village by a male relative,\udfriend or village expert and often linked to initiation ceremonies. Many men from cultural groups with no tradition of foreskin cutting and who had attended boarding school or university reported having their foreskin cut while at school or university by young men from circumcising\udgroups or those who had learnt from circumcising groups. Tools used include bamboo, razor blades, scalpel blades, sharpened toothbrush handles, and large craft needles with strips of rubber tyre or fishing line. Many young men sourced scalpel blades, pain relief and antibiotic medication from medical clinics (either directly or via\udfriends or relatives) and presented these to foreskin cutters. Modest gifts of money and/or food is exchanged with cutters.\ud\udAny potential male circumcision for HIV Prevention programs in Papua New Guinea need to take into account the range of traditional and contemporary penile cutting practices.