Resumen
Male circumcision has received increased attention for its potential to reduce sexual
transmission of HIV. Research on the acceptability of circumcision as a means of
HIV prevention among men who have sex with men is limited. Men who have sex with
men in Bogota, Colombia, either participated in a focus group in which they shared
information regarding their perceptions of circumcision or completed a survey that
assessed circumcision experiences, attitudes, beliefs and willingness. Few participants
reported they were circumcised, yet most participants reported knowing something
about the procedure. Overall, attitudes towards circumcision were mixed: although
circumcision was viewed as safe, it was also viewed as unnatural and cruel to babies.
Beliefs that circumcision could improve sexual functioning and protect against STIs
and HIV were not widely endorsed by survey participants, although focus-group
participants discussed the potential impacts of circumcision on the availability of
sexual partners and sexual performance. Some focus-group participants and many
survey participants reported a hypothetical willingness to get circumcised if strong
evidence of its effectiveness could be provided, barriers removed and recovery time
minimised.