Male and Female Circumcision Associated With Prevalent HIV Infection in Virgins and Adolescents in Kenya,Lesotho,and Tanzania (2007)
This study is a Descriptive research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics:
Author(s): Devon D. Brewer, John J. Potterat, John M. Roberts and Stuart Brody
FGM/C Type(s): All
Health area of focus: HIV transmission.
Objective: To assess the relation between male and female circumcision (genital cutting) and prevalent HIV infection in Kenyan,Lesothoan,and Tanzanian virgins and adolescents
Study Population: Adolescents and adults,focusing on populations in which circumcision was common and usually occurred in puberty or later
Findings: Circumcised male and female virgins were substantially more likely to be HIV infected than uncircumcised virgins (Kenyan females: 3.2% vs. 1.4%,odds ratio [OR] = 2.38; Kenyan males: 1.8% vs. 0%,OR undefined; Lesothoan males: 6.1% vs. 1.9%,OR 3.36; Tanzanian males: 2.9% vs. 1.0%,OR 2.99; weighted mean phi correlation = 0.07,95% confidence interval,0.03 to 0.11). Among adolescents,regardless of sexual experience,circumcision was just as strongly associated with prevalent HIV infection. However,uncircumcised adults were more likely to be HIV positive than circumcised adults. Self-reported sexual experience was independently related to HIV infection in adolescent Kenyan females,but was unrelated to HIV infection in adolescent Kenyan,Lesothoan,and Tanzanian males. Study concluded that HIV transmission may occur through circumcision-related blood exposures in eastern and southern Africa.
Geographical coverage
Region(s):Eastern Africa,Southern Africa
Country(ies):Kenya,Lesotho,Tanzania