[afro-nets] Male circumcision Halves HIV Risk (7)

["Wim Delva" <Wim.Delva@UGent.be>]

Male circumcision Halves HIV Risk (7)
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Condoms have a higher intrinsic potential for protection; they are more efficacious. But whether or not they are more effective, depends on the "real life" effect. In other words, by whom (risk profile) they are being used, what proportion is using them (coverage) and most importantly, in what proportion of sex acts (consistency, adherence) are the key determining factors for condom effectiveness. 

Condoms should still be promoted, both in circumcised and uncircumcised men, but in places/socio-cultural subpopulations where high coverage and consistency for condom use is hard to obtain, circumcision may be a crucial intervention, far more effective than anything else so far implemented.

Dr Wim Delva (MD)
International Centre for Reproductive Health
Ghent University
Belgium
Phone +32 9 240 56 44
E-mail: mailto:Wim.Delva@UGent.be