Recent epidemiological studies have shown fairly convincingly that in high-risk populations in sub-Saharan Africa, male circumcision is associated with a reduced risk of HIV infection. Following a consultation at the XIII International AIDS Conference in July 2000 in Durban, there was growing interest in such an intervention. This paper explores what is known about male circumcision, the risks associated with it, its relationship with sexual health, including HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and the potential problems with implementing circumcision as an intervention internationally, particularly in traditionally non-circumcising communities and those where access to medical facilities is limited. Proponents of male circumcision as an HIV prevention strategy are convinced and convincing, but circumcision is a surgical procedure with associated risks and has strong religious and cultural significance for many groups. Hence, there are ethical and practical barriers to implementing it as a public health intervention. The evidence suggests that circumcision may reduce the risk of infection, but circumcision does not appear to have any impact on transmission rates from HIV positive men to their partners. Until we know why and how circumcision is protective, exactly what the relationship is between circumcision status and other STIs, and whether the effect seen in high-risk populations is generalisable to other groups, the wisest course is to recommend risk reduction strategies of proven efficacy, such as condom use.
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science
1
2%
Nursing and Health Professions
1
2%
Other
2
4%
Unknown
11
24%
Attention Score in Context
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 3. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 28 September 2026.
All research outputs
#22,089,077
of 34,436,843 outputs
Outputs from Reproductive Health Matters
#709
of 814 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#61,392
of 66,521 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Reproductive Health Matters
#8
of 8 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 34,436,843 research outputs across all sources so far. This one is in the 35th percentile – i.e., 35% of other outputs scored the same or lower than it.
So far Altmetric has tracked 814 research outputs from this source. They typically receive a lot more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 14.9. This one is in the 12th percentile – i.e., 12% of its peers scored the same or lower than it.
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We're also able to compare this research output to 8 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one.
