Influence of Church Based Education Circumcision Programmes on Male Initiates’ Attitude Towards Responsible Adulthood: A Case of Meru County, Kenya

Abstract

Male circumcision is practiced by many cultures and religions in the world as a custom, formality, rite of passage, ritual or for medical reasons. The circumcision involves surgical removal of the prepuce/foreskin from the head of the penis/glans leaving it bare. Male circumcision is alleged to enhance hygiene, discourage masturbation and reduce the risk for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS. Currently, church-based circumcision programmes are becoming popular among most societies in Kenya. However, there is concern regarding the cultural position and responsibility of men in the Meru community as customs and practices that were passed on to young male initiates through traditional circumcision programmes become elusive. Therefore, there is need to guard the public image of male initiates who choose to pursue church-based circumcision programmes in respect to their cultural position and masculine responsibility in Meru community. To fill this gap, this study investigated the effects of church-based education circumcision programmes on male initiates’ attitude towards responsible adulthood in Meru County of Kenya. It employed the descriptive survey research design. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to select a sample size of 280 respondents, comprising of 250 male initiates, 25 day care parents and 5 circumcision programme organizers. Questionnaires and interview guides were used as research instruments for collection of the required data. Quantitative data were subjected to frequency, percentage, mean and Chi-square test analyses using SPSS version 16. Qualitative data from open-ended question items, and responses from the interviews were thematically analyzed. Church-based education circumcision programmes inculcated positive attitudes towards responsible adulthood among male initiates. ICT should be integrated in the education circumcision programmes to make it relevant to modern generations.