Incurable Disease

HIV/AIDS has become one of the major problems globally for decades. This problem does not only affect the health of carrier in poor and developing countries, but also affect people in developed countries. Once infected, there is no other way to reverse the condition. So, it is important for us to take some massive measures to prevent the spread of the disease in the population.

A piece of information about HIV/AIDS ....

History.

The reveal of AIDS was first recognized in summer 1981 when five previously healthy homosexual men with Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia in Los Angeles and 26 previously healthy homosexual men with Kaposi’s sarcoma with or without P. Jiroveci in Los Angeles and New York were detected. These cases were followed by the detection in female and male injected drugs users, in blood transfusion recipients, and in haemophiliacs.


Group at Risk (High):

 1. Injected Drug Users.

2. Heterosexual contact.

3. Male-to-male sexual contact.

My focus on this topic:

Circumcision is thought to reduce the risk of HIV transmission from women to circumcised men. This fact is supported by three randomized controlled trials that were carried out to examine the impact of male circumcision on HIV transmission. Three countries were involved in this studies; South Africa, Uganda and Kenya. In Orange Farm, South Africa, 3274 uncircumcised, HIV-negative men, aged between 18-24 years old were enrolled. The result showed 61% protective effect against HIV acquisition (Auvert et al., 2005). In Kisumu, Kenya and Rakai District, Uganda, 2784 and 4996 HIV-negative candidates respectively were enrolled. The results showed HIV acquisition was reduced by 53% in Kisumu and 51% in Rakai District.

The studies above showed that the circumcision can be used as one of the effective method for risk reduction of HIV transmission. Other preventive measures such as the correct and consistent use of condom, delay sexual debut, reduced numbers of sexual partners, avoidance of penetrative sex and voluntary HIV testing and counselling must be sustained. 

In order to make sure that this procedure is scientifically and medically appropriate, clinical guidelines must be issued by the State as a compulsory regulation for circumcision procedure. This is important based on the data in one of the province in South Africa. In 1995, this province stated more than 40 deaths, 40 mutilations, and more than 1000 hospital admission due to traditional circumcision.

A piece of info...

All men undergoing male circumcision should be clearly instructed and supported to abstain from sexual intercourse until certified that their wound has healed, normally taking up to six weeks, to avoid increasing the risk of both acquiring and transmitting HIV.





References:
1. WHO, 2008.Safe, voluntary, informed male circumcision and comprehensive HIV prevention programming. [online accessed on November 15th  2010]

URL: http://www.who.int/hiv/pub/malecircumcision/guide_decision/en/index.html

2. Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, 17th edition, Fauci, Braunwald, kasper, Hauser, Longo, Jameson, Loscalzo.