Male Circumcision 'Could Prevent Millions of AIDS Deaths'

Male Circumcision and HIV

Researchers involved with a 'landmark' trial, which found evidence that male circumcision (MC) could reduce the chance of becoming infected with HIV, have published an analysis estimating the likely impact of expanding the practice of MC across Africa.

Male circumcision has been practised by many of Africa's ethnic groups for many centuries. It usually takes place in late childhood or early adolescence. A large trial in South Africa, published last year, suggested that being circumcised reduced the chance of men becoming infected with HIV infection by about 60%. Taking into account information on HIV infection rates and the prevalence of male circumcision across Africa, the researchers have calculated that, if all men were circumcised over the next 10 years, some two million new infections and around 300,000 deaths could be avoided. Looking at a variety of possible outcomes that might arise if male circumcision is widely promoted and making calculations for 10, 20 and 30 years time, the researchers conclude that the protective benefit to HIV-negative men will be immediate but the full impact of male circumcision on HIV-related illness and death will only become apparent further into the future. After 20 years, the researchers say the number of lives saved would be somewhere in the range 1.6 - 5.8 million.