Health experts argue that male circumcision reduces cases of HIV infection. Researchers and scholars around the world have sought answers to this topic and found compelling evidence, which proves that male circumcision can significantly reduce cases of heterosexual acquired HIV by almost 60 percent. This paper will present and discuss research findings, which show that cases of male circumcision can reduce heterosexual acquired HIV. Male circumcision is the process by which the foreskin of the penis is surgically removed. Male circumcision is safe if provided by qualified persons in a properly equipped and well-managed healthcare center. A number of studies reveal that male circumcision can significantly reduce cases of HIV infection in men when they have sexual intercourse with women.
In the year 2000, a number of researchers studied the relationship between male circumcision and cases of HIV transmission in heterosexuals in Africa (particularly in East Africa). After conducting the research, findings revealed that once uncircumcised and circumcised men have a sexual encounter with women, circumcised men have lower chances of contracting HIV by 44% as compared to uncircumcised men. Research also revealed that male circumcision also reduced cases of diseases such as genital ulcers in men. In South Africa, researchers carried out extensive research in 2005 on 2,498 men to study whether cases of male circumcision can be able to reduce the chances of HIV infection. Statistical findings revealed that circumcised men had reduced chances of HIV infection by 60 % compared to uncircumcised men.
In 2006, the United States of America National Institute of Health (USANIH) conducted a number of studies in Kenya and Uganda in East Africa aimed at investigating the relationship between male circumcision and reduced HIV infection. The research was conducted on 2800 men in Kisumu City where most men do not undergo circumcision because of culture. USANIH conducted another research in Rakai, Uganda on 500 men investigating the same subject. The findings revealed reduced HIV infection among circumcised men by 53% in Kisumu City and by 51% in Rakai District in Uganda.
Generally, a laboratory report revealed that the foreskin of the male genital organ is the most likely tissue to be infected with HIV since it contains a large number of Langerhans cells, which are highly targeted by cells that cause HIV infection. Once the foreskin is surgically removed (circumcision), men reduce the chances of contracting HIV. As such, Australia should embrace and encourage infant male circumcision to help in the fight against the global pandemic, HIV and AIDS. In conclusion, a number of epidemiological studies carried out globally reveal that circumcised men have reduced chances of contracting HIV compared to uncircumcised men. Different researches in Africa showed that male circumcision could be a method of preventing HIV infection. However, health professionals warn that male circumcision only provides partial protection against HIV infection and therefore individuals should continue using other protection methods to fight HIV/AIDS.