 There are six African countries where circumcised men are more likely to be HIV+ than intact men: Int’l. HIV expert warns Kenyan PM Raila
Posted in August 18th, 2008
by Editor in International News
By Mark Lyndon
If you read those reports btw, the level of knowledge about HIV is quite frightening. In Malawi for instance, only 57% know that condoms protect against HIV/AIDS, and only 68% know that limiting sexual partners protects against HIV/AIDS.
There are people who haven’t even heard of condoms. It just seems really misguided to be hailing male circumcision as the way forward. It would help if some of the aid donors didn’t refuse to fund condom education, or work that involves talking to prostitutes.
If anyone really cares about men, women, and children dying in Africa, surely they’d be focussing on education about safe sex rather than surgery that offers limited protection at best, and runs a high risk of risk compensatory behaviour.
Circumcision cannot possibly help anyone unless they have unsafe sex with an HIV+ partner. It might even make things worse – circumcised male virgins are more likely to be HIV+ than intact male virgins, as the operation itself sometimes infects men.
The latest news is that circumcised HIV+ men appear more likely to transmit the virus to women than intact HIV+ men (even after the healing period is over). Eight additional women appear to have been infected during that study, solely because their husbands were circumcised.
Cameroon http://www.measuredhs.com/pubs/pdf/FR163/16chapitre16.pdf table 16.9, p17 (4.1% v 1.1%)
Ghana http://www.measuredhs.com/pubs/pdf/FR152/13Chapter13.pdf table 13.9 (1.6% v 1.4%)
Lesotho http://www.measuredhs.com/pubs/pdf/FR171/12Chapter12.pdf table 12.9 (22.8% v 15.2%)
Malawi http://www.measuredhs.com/pubs/pdf/FR175/FR-175-MW04.pdf table 12.6, p257 (13.2% v 9.5%)
Rwanda http://www.measuredhs.com/pubs/pdf/FR183/15Chapter15.pdf , table 15.11 (3.5% v 2.1%)
Tanzania http://www.measuredhs.com/pubs/pdf/FR173/13Chapter13.pdf not comparable
Responces
maurice Khaguli nandwa said,
in August 19th, 2008 at 5:07 am
Here we go people of kenya.It is really interesting for this clear advice.
Khaguli Maurice nandwa.
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Judy Miriga said,
in August 19th, 2008 at 6:13 am
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Folks,
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Well spoken. But we dint have to wait to be told by a foreigner.
Careless sex is what brought about AIDS. Luos are too careless in sex management.
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Lid Cover should not be condemned for it is just a protection cover from exposure to extreme polluted sorroundings. It is an additional lid to protect the tenderness of the skin from infection.
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The word circumsision was figurative a change in heart and transformation to Christianity. So it had nothing to do with sex because Jesus never had sex with a woman (correct me here).
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The Luos, I believe, majority of those uncut fanctions and tastes differently even better than the cut. Why waste time on this subject, ask for comment from your spouses. You can also tell from the way there is influx rush of women to Luo men although poor. Theirs is natural. Any natural thing is good. But those who choose to have their thing cut let it
be their choice, I prefer uncut.
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I will ask Luo men to stay put but discipline yourselves. Sex is not everything. It is God’s gift to fulfil his lovely will and purpose of creation. Sex is a beautiful thing when it is respected, honoured and done morally but not as a past-time to satisfy sinful short passion.  I pray God will help you identify yourselves, the innermost you.
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I love you all.
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Judy Miriga
USA
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Domnic said,
in August 19th, 2008 at 6:49 am
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Mr.Odour,let us use kenya health data which are available within our reach,we will find that luo nyanza the highest HIV/AIDs effect than any other region.
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Raila never said that circumcision helps to prevent the effect 100%,but it is also a factor among other measures.In the kenya case ,the luos have died more from HIV/AIDs than other tribes which is a fact.
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Therefore,Raila is right to advise the said communities to include circumcision as one of the ways of reducing the spread.The luos have taken other measures just like other communities who circumcise,but spread is still high among the luos.
Therefore,we have to join other communities to include circumcision as one of the measures of reducing the spread of HIV/AIDs among.
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It is logical that way Mr.Oduor.We should use our local health data instead of quoting politicians and other researchers who are not familiar with our local situation.
The challenge luos are facing on spread of HIV/AIDs is to accept that we are die of disease which is incurable at the moment.
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Our cultural believe based on the name CHIRA should not spread.We have to be serious and accept to practice the listed measures of controling the spread faithfully.Our intellectuals and leaders should come openly and about the subject.
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It is well known fact that RWANDA was one most highly affected and now through public education by the government and other organizations,the rate of effect has been reduced considerably.In their fight against the spread,RWANDA has adopted circumcision practices as one of the measures.
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Therefore, Mr. Odour your contributions on this particular case is not convincing because your quoting politicians and some scientific publications.
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For politicians like Mbeki is from a country where some politicians believe that clean washing after sex is enough measure to prevent the effect. Museveni and other scientific publications are talking more on the process of circumcision where dirty tools are used traditionally during the circumcison.The fear here is how it is done, tools which are used,and the healing process.
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Therefore,if the fear is the process,then all the circumcision should be carried out in the hospitals and health centers.The healing process should be monitored by health personels.
When done this way,the effect of HIV/AIDs during circumcision will be reduced.
I support Raila to have come out as a true leader of the people to talk about this subject openly.This is what is expected of a leader. We can not shy from talking about HIV/AIDs and yet we losing our relatives and friends because of HIV/AIDs related diseases.This is known fact which does not require too much debate. We have to find all ways of helping ourselves from this major problems in our society. We should not politicise this major problem facing our people. out and speak
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Nyaroremo said,
in August 19th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
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Judy ayie kodi.
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An nyar luo ma royuombe aonge go gi tich, ayaki en tuo majoma chodo maok orwako nyabuoyuga (Condom) kata maok oritore to yude makata irayuom kata ok in. Raila ni en kare odwa tiyo tinje adi, en PM, en lakatar mar ayaki kendo en Ker mar Luo, Teso kod Joturkana.
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An kod chuara to Raila ok bi tero nyangu.
– – –
Date:Â Wed, 20 Aug 2008 05:56:54 -0700 (PDT)
From:Â Judy Miriga
Subject:Â Â There are six African countries where circumcised men are more likely to be HIV than intact men: Int’l. HIV expert warns Kenyan PM Raila
– – – – – – – – – – –
Judy,
That is a very good comment you have placed. I have to add this: Can somebody explain to the Kenyan officials why South Africa is now having a very large number of HIV/AIDS suffering people in a country (south Africa) where almost all tribes do practice circumcision ?.
Paul Nyandoto
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Date:Â Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:23:19 +0300
From:Â Paul Nyandoto
Subject:Â Â Vs: There are six African countries where circumcised men are more likely to be HIV than intact men: Int’l. HIV expert warns Kenyan PM Raila
Circumcision will NOT prevent AIDs. My advice is you do some research and find out what AIDs is because the claim that circumcision may reduce the risk of contracting AIDs is evident of ignorance of the agents and factors by which HIV is transmitted. Unless circumcision causes the seal of the opening of the male sex organ while having sex then those who subscribe to ideas of circumcision preventing AIDS are in direr need of attending a seminar about HIV. Myself I am circumcised but I know that in no way, shape or form does this reduce my risk of contracting HIV. The only proven steps are safe sex, abstinence, and personal hygiene. Thank you and may God bless you.
HIV/AIDS and the Uncircumcised
The debate on the effects of circumcision on HIV transmission has been going on for quite some time. It reached a peak when a presenter at the XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto, Canada said the ritual of male circumcision reduces the risk of HIV by almost 60%. This was followed by several scientific publications reiterating the same findings. Following the findings, I expressed my perspective in an article published in the Kenya Times Commentary on October 13th, 2006.
Recently in Kenya, the Luo council of elders expressed their view on circumcision of the Luo to reduce HIV in the community but declined to endorse the scientific findings and living the decision on individuals rather than a forced policy. Raila Odinga, Kenya’s Prime Minister, while in Teso recently, encouraged the non-circumcising communities to adopt circumcision of males to help fight the scourge of HIV. A Urologist I know told me a while back that anything that can help reduce HIV devastation is welcome, but he did not agree when I said incases where a placebo works just as good as some medicine to cure a disease, then placebo should be used to help in fighting the disease in areas where effective medicine is out of reach.
The current prevalent rate of HIV in Kenya is about 7.4% and it is greater than 10% in Luo Nyanza where majority of males are uncircumcised. The Luo are about 13% of Kenya’s population. That makes about 4.3 million people. Circumcision rate among the Luo is less than 10% and hence the conclusion that the high prevalence rate of HIV in the community correlates very well to the non-circumcision rate. To understand this conclusion, I’ll also share some statics from other areas. In Finland, with a population of 5.3 million and circumcision rate of less than 5%, the prevalence rate of HIV is less than 0.1%. In the United Kingdom, there is a circumcision rate of 10-15% and HIV prevalence rate of 0.2%. Both in Finland and United Kingdom, the lower the rate of circumcision, the lower the prevalence rate of HIV, while in South Africa which is inhabited mostly by the Xhosa and Zulu, the prevalence rate of HIV is about 20% and circumcision is widespread amongst this group as a rite of passage in to adulthood for males. Why then does circumcision or lack of, has different effects on HIV prevalence in these different communities?
When the first HIV/AIDS epidemic was reported in East Africa, the epicenter was in Kagera region of Uganda which is surrounded by communities that traditionally circumcise their males. This means that there are other important factors other than circumcision that influences HIV prevalence. The effects attributed to circumcision are no better than those of alcohol which inhibits the cognitive functions of the brain thus rendering the drunk unable to be judicious when it comes to matters of bodily desire. There is however, no policy to ban drinking of alcohol. For those who want to circumcise, do so not to reduce your chances of getting HIV, but because you like it for whatever reason- be it cultural, religious or vogue. I absolutely agree with the sentiments expressed by the Luo council of Elders and other like minded people who see beyond the statistical figures.
Okumu Kaluoch
August 22nd, 2008
As Marge Berer said at the Mexico conference, circumcision is “like a cheap condom that breaks 40% of the timeâ€.
It is the only method that does not offer some protection to both partners, and may actually put a man’s sexual partner at greater risk of infection.
Berer gave the imaginary (but all too likely) example of a man who had refused an HIV test when he was circumcised, and was unknowingly HIV-positive. He thinks that circumcision will now protect him from HIV and so stops using condoms. “His partner is in a worse position than he or she was before,” she said.
And that’s assuming that circumcision offers any protection at all, which is still debatable. The three trials showed up very small numbers of infected men compared to the number who dropped out, their HIV status unknown. They differed in many ways from real-world mass-circumcison campaigns.
Circumcision is being powerfully promoted by a few people far beyond any actual benefit.
I admit to being a foreigner, but I have read that it is customary for Luo fishermen to have many women friends along the shores of the lake, If he has unprotected sex with each of them in a short time, the virus can spread among them very easily. The best way to protect them and him is to use condoms (real ones, not 40% ones) every time.