Forget circumcision, this is why HIV rates in S. Africa are high

[Papai]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/0..._n_217266.html

South Africa Rape Study: 1 In 4 Men Admit Rape

Of those surveyed, 28% said they had raped a woman or girl, and 3% said they had raped a man or boy. Almost half who said they had carried out a rape admitted they had done so more than once, with 73% saying they had carried out their first assault before the age of 20.

The study, which had British funding, also found that men who are physically violent towards women are twice as likely to be HIV-positive. They are also more likely to pay for sex and to not use condoms.

And now, "scientists" have decided to only further embolden this behavior by crowing about how circumcision can prevent HIV and save lives. Not if these men are raping people willy nilly and coming back home to have unprotected sex with their wives. Sick.

[LavenderMae]

It's horrific really. Circumcision isn't going to stop the raping. It's heartbreaking. The fact so many men admit to raping just shows how acceptable it must be there. Rape is far from just an issue there but from my understanding in many other countries men would try to deny raping someone because it's looked down upon and of course illegal.

Circumcision is not the answer there or anywhere else and it never will be.

[perspective]

This study adds to the many factors which were not accounted for in the circ studies. From high levels of rape, common use of prostitution, and the practice of women drying out their vaginal canal before sex, these all contribute to the epidemic there.

Applying circ as a solution for HIV in Africa does not take any of this into account, showing how ineffective it would be there, much less any other part of the world.

[Nandi]

Don't forget concurrent sexual networks where one person sleeps with several people and that person also sleeps with several people. http://www.comminit.com/en/node/291837/36
The culture is also one of shame where people won't "admit" they have AIDs because that will cause hardship, shunning, etc. So doctors even put false things on death certificates, anything to not admit to it because it seen as a disease of others, or of those with low morals.

[serendipity22]

And don't forget beliefs like 'having sex with a virgin will cure you of HIV'

'rape is not a serious crime' etc.

....
and mass circumcisions where the same (unsterilized) knife or razor blade is reused.

At best, if the circ studies are right (and I don't think they are) overall circumcising all males would only slow down the rate of HIV spread by 5-10% annually.
(More likely, for a whole host of reasons it will increase HIV)

Better ways of reducing HIV in Africa (not just SA) might include:
(1) Increasing literacy and education (partly so stupid myths are not so readily believed)

(2) Making condoms easily available.

(3) Clean drinking water. Much of the world does not have clean drinking water. If people don't have basic clean water and nutrition will they even care about HIV?

(4) Measures to treat and prevent genital ulcers etc. which facilitate spread of HIV.

[georgia]

In order to keep this thread on the board, discussion needs to be on-topic to the forum and how this news story specifically relates to the Case Against Circumcision. We are not currently hosting News and Current Events unless the news story relates specifically to the forum's topic. Please see this for further information.

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[Nandi]

The African studies are repeatedly being used as rationale for circumcising infants in North America, so it seems very relevant to discuss in the case against circumcision.