Male Circumcision
1. Programs must continue to promote protective behavior such as condom use in addition to male circumcision. Studies found that male circumcision is only partially effective, making protective behavior such as partner reduction and condom use, in addition to circumcision, essential. Men who have been circumcised can still transmit HIV to women if they are HIV-positive. Until healing is complete following circumcision, men are more likely to transmit HIV. Providing male circumcision only to HIV-negative men may discourage all men from accessing male circumcision and women may falsely conclude that if a man is circumcised, there is no risk of HIV acquisition.
Gap noted, for example, in Uganda (Wawer et al., 2009); Southern Africa (Andersson et al., 2009); sub-Saharan Africa (Hallett et al., 2008a); Kenya (Agot et al., 2007); South Africa (Taljaard et al., 2008); Uganda and Zimbabwe (Matovu et al., 2007).
Wawer, M., F. Makumbi, G. Kigozi, D. Serwadda, S. Watya, F. Nalugonda, D. Buwendo, V. Ssempijja, N. Kiwanuka, L. Moulton, N. Swewankambo, S. Reynolds, T. Quinn, P. Opendi, B. Iga, R. Ridzon, O. Laeyendecker and R. Gray. 2009. “Circumcision in HIV-infected Men and its Effect on HIV Transmission to Female Partners in Rakai, Uganda: A Randomised Controlled Trial.” The Lancet374: 229-237.