Male circumcision for prevention of heterosexual acquisition of HIV in men.

Male circumcision reduces HIV acquisition in heterosexual men by at  least 38% in a two year period.

Executive Summary 

Background 

Observational  studies since the 1980s have suggested a protective  effect of male circumcision on HIV acquisition in men,but could be confounded. 

Inclusion criteria

Studies: Randomized controlled  trials

Participants: Sexually active HIV-negative heterosexual men.

Intervention: Male circumcision (surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis).

Outcomes:  
Primary outcome: HIV infection in men (incidence),based on laboratory results.
Secondary outcome: behavioural outcomes, including sexual activity.

Results 

  • Three large trials of men from the general population were conducted in in South Africa (N=3274), Uganda (N=4996) and Kenya (N=2784) between 2002 and 2006.  All three trials were stopped  early due to significant findings at interim analyses. Allocation concealment was inadequate in two trials and unclear  in one; risk of bias was judged to be low to moderate  across the three trials. 
  • There was a relative risk reduction of acquiring HIV of 50% at 12 months and 54% at 21 or 24 months following circumcision. There was little statistical heterogeneity between  the trials’results. 
  • The Kenyan and Ugandan  trials showed  no significant difference in sexual behaviour  between circumcised and uncircumcised men. In the South African trial,the mean number  of sexual contacts at the 12 month visit was 5.9 in the circumcision group versus 5 in the control group,which was a statistically significant difference.  
  • There were few adverse events following the surgical circumcision procedure in all three trials.
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Authors’ conclusions 

Medical male circumcision is a safe procedure and it reduces  HIV infection in heterosexual men by at least 38%

and perhaps up to 66% over 24 months. 

Implications for practice:

Male circumcision should be implemented as part of current prevention  measures if considered feasible,and socially and culturally acceptable for local conditions. 

Implications for research:

Research on the effectiveness of male circumcision for preventing HIV acquisition in heterosexual men is complete and no further trials are required.  Future research must focus on the effects of male circumcision on the women partners of HIV- infected circumcised  men,on the feasibility of implementing the procedure into different social and cultural contexts,and its cost-effectiveness, as well as its effects on HIV transmission during anal intercourse,both in men who have sex with men and between men and women.

See the full review on the Cochrane Library:

Siegfried N, Muller M, Deeks JJ, Volmink J. Male circumcision for prevention of heterosexual acquisition of HIV in men. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD003362.

To read the full review please follow this link: DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003362.pub2.