Could male circumcision reduce HIV incidence in the UK?
We consider the public health relevance of three recent African clinical trials showing male circumcision (MC) to reduce female-to-male transmission of HIV for the UK. Although heterosexually acquired HIV infections now account for the majority of new diagnoses in the UK each year, it is important to note that when considering the public health relevance of MC for the UK a large majority of these infections are acquired abroad. Men who have sex with men (MSM) remain those most at risk of acquiring their HIV infection in the UK. The efficacy and effectiveness of MC among MSM and in particular its protective role in unprotected anal intercourse between men remains unknown. Any future consideration of the role of MC in reducing HIV incidence in the UK should not be at the expense of weakening existing effective interventions.
Rice
B D
BD
Department of HIV and STIs, Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, Colindale, London, UK. brian.rice@hpa.org.uk
Delpech
V C
VC
Evans
B G
BG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002944:Circumcision, Male; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult