Three randomized controlled trials have demonstrated a 60% reduction in risk for HIV infection in men who are exposed to HIV through heterosexual sex in high prevalence settings and multiple scale-up programs are ongoing in several African countries. The Forum for Collaborative HIV Research released a report “Evaluation of impact of adult male circumcision programs on HIV incidence and prevalence: Current research, gaps in knowledge and recommendations for additional research” based on the second in a series of roundtables focusing on scale-up and implementation of adult male circumcision, held on October 8, 2008 .

The FCHR roundtable, convened in collaboration with WHO, UNAIDS and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, brought together key stakeholders, including members of WHO, UNAIDS, CDC, NIH and PEPFAR, as well as the principal investigators from the three trials and other experts. The group discussed the needs of policy makers, and challenges in assessing the impact of this intervention in the context of other ongoing prevention and treatment programs. The roundtable recommended continued funding of ongoing longitudinal studies and consideration of additional longitudinal studies, continued funding of ongoing and future cross-sectional cohort studies, linkage of these with HIV/AIDS indicator surveillance programs and continued investigation of the interaction between male circumcision, STD’s and HIV infection.

“Male Circumcision: Evaluation of impact of MC programs on HIV incidence and prevalence”: http://www.hivforum.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=88&Itemid=57

Fuente: The Forum for collaborative HIV Research.