Circumcision Could Cut HIV Cases
3 CommentsBy Jeff May // June 28th, 2007 // 4:20 pm
A new report from the Global HIV Prevention Working Group projects 60 million new cases of HIV infection by 2015, assuming current strategies to contain the virus are kept in place. But if spending increases and better prevention tactics are used, that number could drop by half.
Such as? By itself, male circumcision on a broader scale in harder hit nations could lead to an 8 percent drop, the report said. (Never mind that circumcision is a tough cultural sell in many places). The working group, an international panel affiliated with the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is calling for an doubling of global spending on HIV/AIDS to $22 billion by 2010.
Mark
Cost of condom? pennies. efffictive?stops AIDS near 100%
Population of Africa 680,000,000 so go half with that for just males. 340 million people.
Cost of surgery? few dollars plus iatrogenic effects.
effectiveness? questionable. semen passes from one individual to another.
Biolovepulse
I’ve also heard of male circumcision can reduce chances of AIDS but I choose not to believe it. Circumcision can only reduce build-up of secretions at the exterior of the penis but there’s little evidence that it can cut chances of coming into contact with the virus.
Like it or not, when there’s unprotected sex, there’s always a risk.
Reality
There are numerous studies, meta-analyses, and reviews showing a protective effect of circumcision against HIV infection (as well as other STDs), so why would you choose not to believe it?
But, yes, it does not replace safe sex.