Community | January 21, 2010 | 6 comments

Circumcision helps fight AIDS

source: http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/TechandScience/Story/STIStory_479684.html

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jubal
LONDON - CIRCUMCISING newborn boys to stop them becoming infected with the Aids virus in later life is more cost-effective than circumcising adult men, Rwandan health experts said on Tuesday.

A study by Agnes Binagwaho and colleagues at Rwanda's health ministry found that the operation, which has been shown to cut dramatically the virus' transmission from women to men, is quicker, simpler and more cost-effective in newborns.

The findings suggest 'Rwanda should be simultaneously scaling up circumcision across a broad range of age groups, with high priority to the very young,' Ms Binagwaho wrote in the study in the Public Library of Science (PLoS) Medicine journal.

The researchers analysed the balance between the costs of medical intervention and its overall benefits. They found each newborn male circumcision would cost US$15, while each adolescent or adult operation would cost US$59. They also found that circumcising male babies would ultimately save more money than it costs, because the operation would prevent HIV infections that are expensive to treat and lead to Aids, which kills.

The penis foreskin, which is removed during circumcision, is rich in cells that are particularly easily infected.

Seth Kalichman of Connecticut University said scaling up male circumcision in southern Africa had 'the potential to stem entire HIV epidemics, saving countless lives' and should be made a priority in comprehensive prevention plans in the region. -- AP
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  2. tags:
    News,  Health,  AIDS,  Circumcision
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6 comments // Circumcision helps fight AIDS

  • ryan8566
    • +1
      ryan8566  

    • here's my situation. i, and my brothers, were all circumcised at birth at the request of my parents...whether for 'cosmetic' reasons, or hygiene, i don't know. i think it had to do more with heredity, after swimming with my dad and uncles. i will say that i am glad the decision was made then, as i have a few friends (very few) who for reasons of their own
      decided to be circumcised in their teens, who bit thru pencils and took serious medication to get thru the pain. thanks, mom and dad.

    • 2 years ago
  • jubal
  • ryan8566
  • long4skin
    • 0
      long4skin  

    • Thats Great
      but do remember circumcision in young adults causes BREAST CANCER
      AND WHEN YOU IDIOTS HAVE some brains ask me why

      You cut my cock Ill bite your Tits and there goes the HUMan

      Tonsils ans foreskins

      take 2 compral and you wont get tonsilitis (www.painrelief.co.za)

      and if you want a cur... 4 aids......wait till I get my funding and ill tell you
      then what is your reason going to be for CIRCUMCISION.................Hay

    • 2 years ago
  • jubal
    • 0
      jubal  

    • Before jumping on the circumcision band wagon, why can't we use education and distribute condoms, why do we need to have genital mutilation as a solution?

    • 2 years ago
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