ASHM 2008: Circumcision not recommended for Australia

From the November 2008 issue of Positive Living • By David Menadue

There has been much publicity about the role of circumcision in the HIV epidemic, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Presentations reviewed data from the disciplines of epidemiology, mathematical modelling, health economics, and public health interventions. All presentations independently came to the same conclusion that the contribution of circumcision in an Australian epidemic would be minimal, does not come close to outweighing the economic, resource and social costs, and could increase rather than decrease risk behaviour and transmission of HIV.

‘While there is debate about the roll out of circumcision as part of an HIV response in some African epidemics, the African data on circumcision is context-specific in regard to culture, behaviour, epidemiology, and health systems – and cannot be extrapolated directly to the Australian epidemic,’ said AFAO President, Dr Graham Brown.

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This article was first published in November 2008.

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