Circumcision must be part of a comprehensive package of information and prevention services

News from the International HIV/AIDS Alliance

14 December 2006 – for immediate release

The results of a randomised trial of male circumcision in South Africa, which is estimated to have averted 60% of potential new infections, is strong evidence that circumcision can be a useful prevention measure in the HIV epidemic, as part of a comprehensive package of information and services, the Alliance said today.

The United States National Institutes of Health has announced that it is halting its current ongoing male circumcision trials because circumcision is proving so dramatically effective that the NIH feels it is unethical not to offer it to all trial participants and beyond.

Alvaro Bermejo, executive director of the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, welcomed the results while stressing that circumcision is not a magic solution to the HIV epidemic.

“Research and funding needs to continue into developing and making available new prevention options, particularly those that can give more protection to women, such as the female condom and microbicides. While male circumcision reduces men’s likelihood of becoming infected, we don’t yet know if there is any corresponding reduction of risk for their female partners. In an epidemic that is already affecting more women than men, circumcision must not become an alternative to condoms and safer sexual practices.

“It is also important to remember that while male circumcision is useful in high prevalence epidemics such as those in sub-Saharan Africa where HIV is widespread among the general population, it is not of relevance to HIV epidemics concentrated among injecting drug users, such as those in Ukraine and Eastern and Central Europe, Russia, and parts of Latin America and Asia. These are some of the fastest growing epidemics we now face. It is also unclear from existing research whether circumcision will reduce transmission rates in sex between men.

“The key to successful prevention work still depends on mobilising communities and giving them access to full information so they can make informed choices. Safe male circumcision should be one part of a comprehensive range of prevention services available to communities. However, as we have already seen with other aspects of the HIV response, such as providing condoms, antiretroviral treatment and prevention of mother to child transmission, these are only effective when they are provided through, and with the full engagement of communities.”

Ends

Editor’s notes

  1. Established in 1993, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance (the Alliance) is a global partnership of nationally-based organisations working to support community action on AIDS in developing countries. These national partners help local community groups and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to take action on AIDS, and are supported by technical expertise, policy work and fundraising carried out at the UK-based international secretariat and across the Alliance.
  2. The Alliance has worked with community organisations from over 40 countries, provided financial support to over 3,000 projects (implemented by over 2,000 community and faith-based groups). Expenditure in 2005 alone was over US $45 million (£25 million).
  3. More information about the work of the International HIV/AIDS Alliance is available from www.aidsalliance.org. Alternatively, and to arrange interviews, please contact Simon Moore. T: 01273 718744. E: smoore@aidsalliance.org or Rhian Evans. T: 01273 718961. E: revans@aidsalliance.org