SINGAPORE Doctors call for more study on male circumcision curbing AIDS

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Doctors call for more study on male circumcision curbing AIDS

SINGAPORE (Dec 19, 2006): More studies are needed before male

circumcision is adopted in Asia to curb AIDS despite the findings of

researchers from the United States and Canada, doctors in Singapore

said in a published report today.

Before any recommendations for policy change can be made, more

information is needed, said Dr Arlene Chua, with the department of

medicine and infectious diseases at the National University Hospital.

Attention should not be diverted from other known preventive methods,

such as condom use, she said in The Straits Times report.

Researchers last week revealed that clinical trials in Africa showed

that circumcision, the surgical removal of the foreskin at the head

of the penis, appears to reduce a man's risk of contracting AIDS from

heterosexual sex by half.

The study involved nearly 8,000 men in Kenya and Uganda. TheKenyan

men had a 53% reduction in new HIV infection. The reduction was 48%

among the men in Uganda.

" It will be important to undertake similar studies in countries in

Asia with a high prevalence of HIV infection, " Dr Roy Chan, director

of Singapore's National Skin Centre, was quoted as saying.

Circumcision " could be promoted as part of a comprehensive approach

to HIV control together with the promotion of safe sex and the

provision of treatment for infected individuals, " he said.

A medical expert expressing skepticism was Steen, with

theWorld Health Organisation's regional office for South-East Asia.

" HIV is now increasing faster in countries like Indonesia where men

are circumcised, " he noted.

Experts generally hailed the findings. The benefits far outweigh the

risks, said Prof Halperin with the Harvard Center for

Population and Development. - dpa

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