May 9, 2012

U.S. Supports Circumcision in Foreign Militaries to Prevent HIV

The United States supports male circumcision in foreign militaries to prevent the spread of HIV, Agence France Presse (AFP) reports. U.S. global AIDS coordinator Ambassador Eric Goosby conveyed this support to 400 delegates at a meeting on AIDS and the military with officials from 80 countries, including Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.  Studies show that circumcision can dramatically reduce HIV rates among heterosexual men: A study in South Africa found new HIV cases fell by 76 percent after a wide circumcision program; 2006 trials in Kenya, Uganda and South Africa found that it reduced men’s risk of contracting HIV in half; and a long-term analysis has found that circumcision reduces risk by about 60 percent. The United States is now sponsoring several programs in Africa with a goal of circumcising 4 million men by 2013.  

To read the AFP article, click here.

Search: United States, foreign, military, circumcision, HIV, AIDS

Scroll down to comment on this story.