Comments on: Acceptability of Male Circumcision for the Prevention of HIV/AIDS in the Dominican Republic http://elitestv.com/pub/2009/10/acceptability-of-male-circumcision-for-the-prevention-of-hivaids-in-the-dominican-republic Your Elite News Source! Sun, 05 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Shuggy http://elitestv.com/pub/2009/10/acceptability-of-male-circumcision-for-the-prevention-of-hivaids-in-the-dominican-republic/comment-page-1#comment-8317 Shuggy Sun, 01 Nov 2009 02:01:20 +0000 http://elitestv.com/pub/2009/10/acceptability-of-male-circumcision-for-the-prevention-of-hivaids-in-the-dominican-republic#comment-8317 The whole basis of the claim that "Male circumcision (MC) is an effective strategy to prevent HIV infection in heterosexual men" is clinical trials in three African countries where the HIV rate is higher in circumcised men. 5,400 volunteers were circumcised and a similar number, randomly chosen, left intact. After less than two years, 64 of the circumcised men had HIV and 137 of the control group. That difference - 73 men who might not have got HIV if they had been circumcised - is all there is. Meanwhile 327 of the circumcised men dropped out of the trails, their HIV status unknown. The trial was not double-blinded or placebo controlled, and there have been no field trials. It is, to say the least, premature to start proposing mass circumcision in the Dominican Republic when you don't even know the HIV rate among circumcised and intact men. It could make matters worse, not better.<br><br>"These educational activities would constitute a great opportunity to teach about sexual health and reinforce safe sex practices." And if the HIV rate falls, circumcision will get the credit, but it may be the education and safe sex that does it. The whole basis of the claim that “Male circumcision (MC) is an effective strategy to prevent HIV infection in heterosexual men” is clinical trials in three African countries where the HIV rate is higher in circumcised men. 5,400 volunteers were circumcised and a similar number, randomly chosen, left intact. After less than two years, 64 of the circumcised men had HIV and 137 of the control group. That difference – 73 men who might not have got HIV if they had been circumcised – is all there is. Meanwhile 327 of the circumcised men dropped out of the trails, their HIV status unknown. The trial was not double-blinded or placebo controlled, and there have been no field trials. It is, to say the least, premature to start proposing mass circumcision in the Dominican Republic when you don't even know the HIV rate among circumcised and intact men. It could make matters worse, not better.

“These educational activities would constitute a great opportunity to teach about sexual health and reinforce safe sex practices.” And if the HIV rate falls, circumcision will get the credit, but it may be the education and safe sex that does it.

]]> By: Shuggy http://elitestv.com/pub/2009/10/acceptability-of-male-circumcision-for-the-prevention-of-hivaids-in-the-dominican-republic/comment-page-1#comment-2668 Shuggy Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:01:20 +0000 http://elitestv.com/pub/2009/10/acceptability-of-male-circumcision-for-the-prevention-of-hivaids-in-the-dominican-republic#comment-2668 The whole basis of the claim that "Male circumcision (MC) is an effective strategy to prevent HIV infection in heterosexual men" is clinical trials in three African countries where the HIV rate is higher in circumcised men. 5,400 volunteers were circumcised and a similar number, randomly chosen, left intact. After less than two years, 64 of the circumcised men had HIV and 137 of the control group. That difference - 73 men who might not have got HIV if they had been circumcised - is all there is. Meanwhile 327 of the circumcised men dropped out of the trails, their HIV status unknown. The trial was not double-blinded or placebo controlled, and there have been no field trials. It is, to say the least, premature to start proposing mass circumcision in the Dominican Republic when you don't even know the HIV rate among circumcised and intact men. It could make matters worse, not better.<br><br>"These educational activities would constitute a great opportunity to teach about sexual health and reinforce safe sex practices." And if the HIV rate falls, circumcision will get the credit, but it may be the education and safe sex that does it. The whole basis of the claim that “Male circumcision (MC) is an effective strategy to prevent HIV infection in heterosexual men” is clinical trials in three African countries where the HIV rate is higher in circumcised men. 5,400 volunteers were circumcised and a similar number, randomly chosen, left intact. After less than two years, 64 of the circumcised men had HIV and 137 of the control group. That difference – 73 men who might not have got HIV if they had been circumcised – is all there is. Meanwhile 327 of the circumcised men dropped out of the trails, their HIV status unknown. The trial was not double-blinded or placebo controlled, and there have been no field trials. It is, to say the least, premature to start proposing mass circumcision in the Dominican Republic when you don't even know the HIV rate among circumcised and intact men. It could make matters worse, not better.

“These educational activities would constitute a great opportunity to teach about sexual health and reinforce safe sex practices.” And if the HIV rate falls, circumcision will get the credit, but it may be the education and safe sex that does it.

]]> By: ml66uk http://elitestv.com/pub/2009/10/acceptability-of-male-circumcision-for-the-prevention-of-hivaids-in-the-dominican-republic/comment-page-1#comment-2663 ml66uk Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:36:55 +0000 http://elitestv.com/pub/2009/10/acceptability-of-male-circumcision-for-the-prevention-of-hivaids-in-the-dominican-republic#comment-2663 How about an "information session" explaining the *drawbacks* of the procedure?<br><br>Male circumcision (MC) is NOT an effective strategy to prevent HIV infection in heterosexual men. In Europe, almost no-one circumcises unless they're Muslim or Jewish, and they have significantly lower rates than the USA of almost all STI's including HIV.<br><br>Even in Africa, there are six countries where men are more likely to be HIV+ if they've been circumcised: Cameroon, Ghana, Lesotho, Malawi, Rwanda, and Swaziland. Eg in Malawi, the HIV rate is 13.2% among circumcised men, but only 9.5% among intact men. In Rwanda, the HIV rate is 3.5% among circumcised men, but only 2.1% among intact men. If circumcision really worked against AIDS, this just wouldn't happen. We now have people calling circumcision a "vaccine" or "invisible condom", and viewing circumcision as an alternative to condoms.<br><br>The one study into male-to-female transmission showed a 50% higher rate in the group where the men had been circumcised btw.<br><br>ABC (Abstinence, Being faithful, Condoms) is the way forward. Promoting genital surgery will cost lives, not save them. How about an “information session” explaining the *drawbacks* of the procedure?

Male circumcision (MC) is NOT an effective strategy to prevent HIV infection in heterosexual men. In Europe, almost no-one circumcises unless they're Muslim or Jewish, and they have significantly lower rates than the USA of almost all STI's including HIV.

Even in Africa, there are six countries where men are more likely to be HIV+ if they've been circumcised: Cameroon, Ghana, Lesotho, Malawi, Rwanda, and Swaziland. Eg in Malawi, the HIV rate is 13.2% among circumcised men, but only 9.5% among intact men. In Rwanda, the HIV rate is 3.5% among circumcised men, but only 2.1% among intact men. If circumcision really worked against AIDS, this just wouldn't happen. We now have people calling circumcision a “vaccine” or “invisible condom”, and viewing circumcision as an alternative to condoms.

The one study into male-to-female transmission showed a 50% higher rate in the group where the men had been circumcised btw.

ABC (Abstinence, Being faithful, Condoms) is the way forward. Promoting genital surgery will cost lives, not save them.

]]>