">Hiv Infection | Male Circumcision Helps Reduce Hiv Infection

Male circumcision itself is not driving the epidemic, but low levels of circumcision combined with frequent concurrent partnerships and low condom use, is likely to be an important contributor to the high prevalence of HIV in the country.

A ‘Think Tank’ meeting on AIDS prevention in the high HIV-prevalence countries in southern Africa, convened in Lesotho in May 2006 by SADC and UNAIDS, concluded that ‘high levels of multiple and concurrent sexual partnerships by men and women with insufficient consistent, correct condom use, combined with low levels of male circumcision are the key drivers of the epidemic in the sub-region.’

There has been a lot of controversy on the issue of male circumcision as different ethnic groups and different tribes have a different take on the issue. In Namibia certain cultures practise circumcision as a cultural norm while others feel it is not so important.

There are still a lot of people out there who think that being circumcised is a ‘typical’ practice that certain cultures have taken up and made part of their culture.

What these people however do not know is the fact that male circumcision is said to reduce the HIV infection rate. Three clinical trials found that men who had been circumcise