title: Addressing legal and policy barriers to male circumcision for adolescent boys in South Africa.
abstract: With millions of adolescents becoming infected with HIV globally, it is essential that barriers to much-needed interventions are reduced for at-risk adolescents. In this article we review the legal and policy framework in South Africa for adolescent access to male circumcision. We are of the view that the framework does confer protection for adolescent boys while enabling access to male circumcision; however, we identify ambiguities and tensions that exist between the Children's Act, regulations and national guidelines. We recommend reform to further enable access by this vulnerable group to this prevention modality.
authors.affiliation: School of Law, University of KwaZulu-Natal and member of the HIV/AIDS Vaccines Ethics Group, School of Applied Human Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; HIV/AIDS Vaccines Ethics Group, School of Applied Human Sciences, College of Humanities, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. strodeA@ukzn.ac.za.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Strode
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Toohey
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Slack
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002944:Circumcision, Male / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006291:Health Policy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D057828:Informed Consent By Minors / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D008297:Male; D013019:South Africa