INITIATION RITUALS

Peltzer, K. (2011) Early smoking initiation and associated factors among in-school male and female adolescents in seven African countries. African Health Sciences. 11(2):320-328.

This report examines the prevalence of and common correlates of early smoking initiation among male and female school children across seven African countries. The total sample included 17725 school children aged 13 to 15 years from nationally representative samples from seven African countries. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to assess the relationship between early smoking...

Peltzer, K. & Kanta, X. (2009) Medical circumcision and manhood initiation rituals in the Eastern Cape, South Africa: a post intervention evaluation. (Paper presented at the SA Aids Conference, Durban, 2 April).

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Peltzer, K. & Kanta, X. (2009) Medical circumcision and manhood initiation rituals in the Eastern Cape, South Africa: a post intervention evaluation. Culture, Health & Sexuality. 11(1):83-97.

The objective of this study were first, to report the adverse events reported following male circumcision performed by medical professionals after a one-day training workshop, second to report on the attitudes towards, beliefs surrounding and experiences regarding circumcision and initiation, the third to assess the HIV-risk behavior of young men attending initiation schools post medical circum...

Peltzer, K., Nqeketo, A., Petros, G. & Kanta, X. (2008) Traditional circumcision during manhood initiation rituals in the Eastern Cape, South Africa: a pre-post intervention evaluation. BMC Public Health. 8(1):64.

Circumcisions undertaken in non-clinical settings can have significant risks of serious adverse events, including death. The aim of this study was to test an intervention for safe traditional circumcision in the context of initiation into manhood among the Xhosa, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Traditional surgeons and nurses registered with the health department were trained over five days on te...

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Peltzer, K., Nqeketo, A., Petros, G. & Kanta, X. (2008) Traditional male circumcision intervention report. (Commissioned by USAID, March).

This intervention report is divided into six parts dealing with the following issues: 1. Attitudes of pre-initiates towards traditional male circumcision in the context of HIV in the Eastern Cape, South Africa 2. Evaluation of a safer male circumcision training programme for traditional surgeons and nurses in the Eastern Cape, South Africa 3. Circumcision during manhood initiation rituals i...

Peltzer, K. (2008) Traditional male circumcision remains a dangerous business. HSRC Review. 6(2):5-6.

Male circumcision using traditional methods is a dangerous, even life-threatening, rite of passage. In presumably the first study to test the feasibility of an intervention for safe traditional circumcision among the Xhosa in the Eastern Cape, the authors found weak support for encouraging this practice.