South African king promoting circumcision

[Pirogi]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa...ids/index.html

[NSmomtobe]

Well, I can't really blame him, given the high profile of the studies that were conducted in Africa. Using those studies to justify RIC in the USA is beyond ridiculous, but using them to promote adult circumcision in Africa is harder to argue against.

Interesting that circumcision does not cause pain in South Africa.

[QueenOfTheMeadow]

I want to remind everyone not to discuss comments that other people have made on the the article. Please keep the discusion about the article itself. Thanks!

[2xy]

Honestly, I can see how they wouldn't view it as painful. The foreskin in an adult male is fully retractable, so the incision would be a simple one....no tearing away of the foreskin is involved. It would be one simple cut all the way around.

With all the tattooing and scarring and other body modifications that go on in Africa, this is probably a piece of cake.

I'm not pro-circ....just sayin'....

[littlemizflava]

the king says to use condoms after the circ but i dont get it if it is the forskin that make aids?hiv spread then if it is in a condom wouldnt it reduce the risk. why dont he promote and give unlimited access to condoms and forget the circing.

[tammylsmith]

I have to agree that the issue isn't circumcision itself, since this is another form of adult body modification (the key to it being ok is that it is only practiced on adults who want it done, though we all know it is a slippery slope to then keep it from being done on infants who cannot consent).... though I also have to say I think circumcision as an HIV prevention method seems silly when condoms do the job so well. I read somewhere that a prostitute is cheaper than a condom to get over there... maybe the government should be funding free or very cheap condom distribution programs so that a proper study can be done on the most effective way to reduce the spread of HIV.

I worry that all this rah rah circumcision stuff sold to them them by the circumcising parts of the wet (well, mostly just the U.S. I guess), besides starting trends of infant circumcision in less sterile environments (so that the mortality/morbidity rates will skyrocket even over what we have here), will actually make the rates of transmission go up, because men will think they are safer to have sex without protection.

[LavenderMae]

The study they are basing this on was really flawed. I think it's disgusting and sad that circumcision is being sold to them as a cure. I cringe when I think about how many more will die due this negligent study and those so desperate to do anything to lower HIV/AID rates falling for it.

Education, CONDOMS (and easy/free access to them) and societal changes are the only things that are going to put a dent in the HIV/AIDS rates there.

[BaMo]

Originally Posted by LavenderMae

The study they are basing this on was really flawed. I think it's disgusting and sad that circumcision is being sold to them as a cure. I cringe when I think about how many more will die due this negligent study and those so desperate to do anything to lower HIV/AID rates falling for it.

Education, CONDOMS (and easy/free access to them) and societal changes are the only things that are going to put a dent in the HIV/AIDS rates there.

Ditto!

[Pirogi]

Originally Posted by tammylsmith

I read somewhere that a prostitute is cheaper than a condom to get over there... maybe the government should be funding free or very cheap condom distribution programs so that a proper study can be done on the most effective way to reduce the spread of HIV.

Or maybe they should help the prostitutes unionize ...

totally kidding!

But seriously, that is one of the major criticisms of the Africa HIV/circ studies, that they provided repeated and extensive counseling regarding condom use and safe sex practices to the circumcised group without providing the same to the control group (intact). Thus, the Africa trials very well could be a study showing that counseling and condom use prevents HIV infection.

[tammylsmith]

I can't believe the AAP and CDC are even thinking of changing their policies, and that the WHO issued a statement about circumcision preventing HIV spreading without more rigorous studies. This seems so obvious!

[NSmomtobe]

Originally Posted by Pirogi

But seriously, that is one of the major criticisms of the Africa HIV/circ studies, that they provided repeated and extensive counseling regarding condom use and safe sex practices to the circumcised group without providing the same to the control group (intact). Thus, the Africa trials very well could be a study showing that counseling and condom use prevents HIV infection.

Wow! That is a major confounding variable! Too bad these issues didn't get the same press coverage as the study "findings" did.

[NSmomtobe]

Originally Posted by tammylsmith

I can't believe the AAP and CDC are even thinking of changing their policies, and that the WHO issued a statement about circumcision preventing HIV spreading without more rigorous studies. This seems so obvious!

I know! And I still say it is a ridiculous leap to take studies of adult circumcision in Africa and use them to justify infant circumcision in other countries, where the picture of HIV/AIDS is completely different.