According to a definitive Kenyan study, conclusive data shows that male circumcision reduces men’s chances of contracting HIV by 51-60%. Other studies project that in the next decade, male circumcision could prevent 2 million AIDS infections and 300,000 deaths. Last year alone, 2.8 million people in sub-Saharan Africa became infected with HIV, and 2.1 million people died from its effects. Circumcision holds enormous potential benefits and can be an effective preventative measure for the global HIV/AIDS pandemic, especially in Kenya (or similar countries) where circumcision rates fall around 50%.
These new findings have sparked volatile debates regarding the necessity of circumcision. From a health perspective, it seems obvious that we should push for 100% of males to be circumcised worldwide. Some talk of changing the health guidelines surrounding circumcision and initiating a circumcision mandate have been raised. Circumcision rates have decreased worldwide, but this trend could reverse with a large-scale pro-circumcision movement. However, such discussion inevitably provokes sensitive religious and cultural issues that may eclipse the proposed health benefits, as great as they may be.
In addition to the religious and cultural issues that arise in response to the promotion of circumcision, ethical issues will surface concurrently. What is more important: an individual’s personal beliefs/preferences or the health and well-being of the global population? If we choose the latter, is it ethical to enforce a circumcision mandate despite personal beliefs/preferences? How do we fight opposition from the healthcare sector? Should a mandate be enforced only in specific countries where HIV/AIDS rates are especially high (i.e. countries in Africa, India) and is that ethical? Personally, I don't think circumcision can be enforced here, or in any other developing nations. Proponents will meet so much resistance that a mandate will never work. Massive health promotion and educational dissemination efforts need to take place before religious and cultural barriers become displaced. There are so many loaded ethical questions surrounding this issue, and it will be interesting to see how it resolves over time.
These new findings have sparked volatile debates regarding the necessity of circumcision. From a health perspective, it seems obvious that we should push for 100% of males to be circumcised worldwide. Some talk of changing the health guidelines surrounding circumcision and initiating a circumcision mandate have been raised. Circumcision rates have decreased worldwide, but this trend could reverse with a large-scale pro-circumcision movement. However, such discussion inevitably provokes sensitive religious and cultural issues that may eclipse the proposed health benefits, as great as they may be.
In addition to the religious and cultural issues that arise in response to the promotion of circumcision, ethical issues will surface concurrently. What is more important: an individual’s personal beliefs/preferences or the health and well-being of the global population? If we choose the latter, is it ethical to enforce a circumcision mandate despite personal beliefs/preferences? How do we fight opposition from the healthcare sector? Should a mandate be enforced only in specific countries where HIV/AIDS rates are especially high (i.e. countries in Africa, India) and is that ethical? Personally, I don't think circumcision can be enforced here, or in any other developing nations. Proponents will meet so much resistance that a mandate will never work. Massive health promotion and educational dissemination efforts need to take place before religious and cultural barriers become displaced. There are so many loaded ethical questions surrounding this issue, and it will be interesting to see how it resolves over time.