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WHO/UNAIDS recommends safe, voluntary male circumcision for adult men as one important component of a comprehensive strategy to prevent HIV infection and maximize public health benefits.
Historically, male circumcision has been practised for various reasons, including hygiene, religion, tradition, and culture.
In late 2006, two randomised controlled trials on whether male circumcision reduces HIV transmission were halted because interim results showed an overwhelming protective effect, validating the results from an earlier South African trial conducted in Orange Farm. Based on the weight of the evidence from both observational studies and randomised trials, public health leaders have concluded that male circumcision — when performed by well trained and well equipped health professionals — can significantly reduce the risk of HIV infection among adult men, and thus the number of new infections per year.
Media professionals have a key role to play in translating scientific information and informing the public about this new, partially effective HIV prevention strategy.
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News and events
Male circumcision cost-effective for HIV prevention
Adult male circumcision is a cost-effective and potentially cost-saving method of HIV prevention in sub-Saharan Africa, a systematic review concluded. Five economic evaluations published between 2006 and 2009 met the review’s criteria; all found that male circumcision was cost-effective for the prevention of heterosexually acquired HIV infection in African men. The reported cost per HIV infection averted ranged from US $174 to US$ 2,808 over 10 to 20 years. The review makes recommendations for future economic evaluations of male circumcision for HIV prevention (PLoS One, 10 March 2010).
Tracking the rollout of male circumcision services
Most of the 13 countries in eastern and southern Africa identified as priorities for rolling out male circumcision for HIV prevention have begun providing these services at some level. According to PlusNews, about 135,000 men were circumcised in nine of these countries in 2009; the largest-scale effort is in Kenya, which launched its programme in late 2008 and had reached 90,000 men with male circumcision services by the end of 2009. The article summarises the 13 countries’ progress in developing and implementing male circumcision policies (PlusNews, 2 March 2010).
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