“Circumcision also reduces the risk of HIV infection two to eight times.
HIV infection can appear during have sex and HIV transmission in men, usually through the penis”.
Said Director of Health Services Kusuma Buana Foundation, Adi Sasongko in meeting with the media in the Empu Sendok Restaurant, in Jakarta.
So far, various studies have been conducted to determine the extent to which male circumcision may reduce the risk of HIV infection.
According to Carlos R Estrada and colleagues from the Health Center Rush Presbyterian St. Lukes in Chicago, Illinois, about 80 percent of HIV infection usually appear during the intimate touch.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Secretariat for the World AIDS (UNAIDS) bring together international experts in a consultation to determine whether male circumcision should be recommended in the efforts for the prevention of HIV infection.
After the research is done, the results on circumcision men are able to reduce the risk of HIV infection through heteroseksual on 60 percent of men. Then, what the relationship with the circumcision reduced the risk of transmission of HIV / AIDS?
Head of the penis,is an important factor in viral transmission of HIV / AIDS. Epidermis or the tip of the penis head play an important role in the way the HIV virus.
On the outside skin of the head or the tip of the penis there are cells that are very sensitive to the HIV virus. The section cut in the process of circumcision is coated very thin skin. This section is easily injured during intercourse.
Therefore, the virus can spread from a wounded skin. Uncircumcised penis is more easily spread HIV virus to the spouse because the skin on the tip of the penis or prepuce is usually damp and wet, and the place is suitable for the HIV virus to live.
Wet foreskin also potential of other sexually transmitted diseases. With circumcision, skin will automatically open so can lower the risk of HIV infection.
According to data from research Halperin and Bailey, as quoted by Adi, countries of Asia and Africa with a population prevalence of circumcised male less than 20 percent have HIV prevalence several times higher than countries with a population of circumcised men that more than 80 percent.
Similar results,also found in research in South Africa, Kenya, and Uganda. In fact the risk of HIV transmission is lower in circvumcised men compared with uncircumcised men.
South Africa 76 percent lower, Kenya, 60 percent lower, while Uganda 55 percent lower. "Why Africa, because there are in the area of HIV / AIDS at most, the 22 million people," he said.
However, circumcision does not automatically make men immune to the HIV / AIDS. "Circumcision only reduces the risk of transmission of HIV / AIDS," specifically.
Circumcision is not the only method of prevention of HIV transmission that can be done. Prevention of HIV must also be done in various ways, one is through the use of condom promotion and activities that do not transmit HIV risk to others.
"Campaigns and the socialization of transmission and prevention of HIV / AIDS must be accompanied by an increase sustainable access of the examination and treatment for people with HIV," said program manager at the AIDS high-risk group Yayasan Kusuma Buana Rediscoveri, Nitta. High-risk group of contracting sexually transmitted diseases and HIV are sex workers and drug users with needle.
