Male Circumcision Reduces Risk of Contracting HIV, Researchers Say
Evidence conclusively shows that male circumcision for preventing HIV in heterosexual men reduces the risk of contracting HIV, researchers from the South Africa-based Cochrane Collaboration said on Wednesday, SAPA/Mail & Guardian reports (SAPA/Mail & Guardian, 4/15).
"No further trials are required to establish that HIV infection rates are reduced in heterosexual men for at least the first two years after circumcision," Nandi Siegfried, co-director of the Cochrane Collaboration, said. Although the group had previously said there was not enough evidence to recommend circumcision for the prevention of HIV/AIDS, Cochrane researchers reversed their position after examining three recent clinical trials that took place in Kenya, South Africa and Uganda between 2002 and 2006, Xinhua reports. The trials included a total of 11,054 men (Xinhua, 4/15).
Results from those trials showed that circumcised heterosexual men had reduced their risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS by 54% over a two year period compared with men who were not circumcised (ANI/Times of India, 4/16).
Circumcision might help to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS because it removes cells in the foreskin that might specifically attract the virus, Siegfried said (Witness, 4/15).
"Policy makers can consider implementing circumcision as an additional measure" in HIV/AIDS prevention, she said, adding that the culture and environment in which the circumcision takes place should be considered (ScienceDaily, 4/15).
The full study is available online.
(NBC News clip talks about Uganda study, doesn't mention others focuses on other STDS, not HIV).