3.2. Data Collection

One research team member (Maciej Olszewski) administered the questionnaires under normal classroom conditions. A structured, anonymous questionnaire, with separate versions for males and females was adapted for local conditions from a questionnaire used in a previous research addressing MC by Westercamp et al. [16]. The authors obtained consent to use the original questionnaire and it was then translated for Polish respondents. Participants were asked about:

Knowledge of HIV/AIDS was assessed by giving 1 point for each correct answer to the 12 items rated as “true”, “false”, “don’t know”. The scale measured knowledge from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 12. Scores for individuals were summed up to give a total knowledge score. Scores of 0–5 (less than 50% answered correctly) were arbitrary taken as poor, 6–9 (50–75% correct answers)—as mediocre knowledge, 10–12 (more than 75% correct answers)—as good knowledge.

Circumcised males were asked about their age at circumcision and the primary reason for the procedure.

The main question of interest, developed for the purpose of this study, was: “When counseling a male at risk of HIV infection, would you generally recommend adult circumcision?”. The possible answers were (1) yes, (2) no, (3) not sure. Heterosexual men at an increased risk for HIV included those who are in sexual relationships with HIV infected female partners, men with multiple female partners, those in relationships with women who are at high risk of HIV (e.g., commercial sex workers, intravenous drug users). The study was approved by the Pomeranian Medical University Ethics Committee (KB 0012/41/13).