South African Press Association - September 30, 2005

"HIV cannot be prevented by mass circumcisions. Circumcision may result in a false belief that safe-sex practices are no longer required, implying a worsening of the incidence of HIV infection," read a statement from the National Organisation of Circumcision Information Resource Centres South Africa.

The organisation encouraged the Treatment Action Campaign to reconsider advocating circumcision, following its recent congress where a study presented suggested that a circumcised penis is more resistant to HIV infection.

"This study could dangerously mislead people into believing that if they are circumcised, they could be protected against HIV."

Dean Ferris, of the National Organisation of Restoring Men South Africa, said in the statement that the natural response of a circumcised male to these reports will be to assume that he is more resistant to HIV infection than an "intact male", with the implication being that "even more circumcised men may engage in unsafe sexual practices under the false impression that they won't contract HIV".

"Equally troublesome is the fact that this study offers no indication on whether or not the receptive partner of the circumcised male will become more or less vulnerable to HIV infection."

Ferris said the female receptive partner's risk will likely increase without adequate protection.

Female circumcision

A second study, unreported by the media and performed by Stallings among African females in Tanzania, showed that HIV transmission was also reduced among circumcised females.

"Such selective reporting suggests the need for analysis from a gender-prejudice point of view and suggests that male and female circumcision should be dealt with as a unity."

Ferris said the foreskin is not just a piece of skin, but rather a highly specialised erogenous and immunological structure that cannot be cut off like hair or fingernails.

"We are therefore concerned about the frequent uncritical reference to particularly the male study in the media. The promotion of its uncorroborated findings, without adequate understanding of the behavioural consequences, is highly irresponsible."

Ferris said feedback offered to the organisation indicates that some individuals are now advocating "chop-shops," where parents will be able to bring their children for the non-consensual, non-therapeutic removal of their foreskins.

'Premature' quotation

He said the broad quotation of the study within the media is premature and irresponsible, as the study has not been peer-reviewed yet.

Ferris said when extrapolating globally, the hypothesis of the study could be proven to be wrong.

For example, the United States has a very high rate of circumcision coupled with the highest HIV infection rate in the developed world, while Scandinavia, on the other hand, has one of the lowest rates of circumcision in the world coupled with a comparatively low incidence of HIV infection.

"Global trends should be more accurate than one, demographically limited study. Neither does current research point to a significant difference in infection rates in South Africa among the non-circumcising tribes, such as the Zulus, and the circumcising tribes, such as the Xhosas."

Ferris said other studies have so far failed to corroborate that circumcision could prevent HIV.

He said the most important emphasis of HIV prevention should be on education, the use of non-contaminated medical equipment, and behavioural changes such as condom use, and not foreskin amputation.

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