STWR - Share The World's Resources

Dr Edward C. Green
&
Bongi Zokwe, AIDSCAP/South Africa,
John David Dupree, Ph.D, AIDSCAP/South Africa.

Senior Research Scientist in the School of Public Health, Center for Population and Development Studies, Harvard University

Indigenous African Healers Promote Male Circumcision for
Prevention of STDs.

Bongaarts and his colleagues found a positive statistical correlation between lack of male circumcision and HIV sero-prevalence in the capitals of 37 Africa countries (Bongaarts et al 1989:373-5). Although most geographically localized studies of risk factors have not considered circumcision, a few have and have also discovered positive associations between HIV infection and lack of male circumcision (e.g., Greenblatt et al 1988). It is not known what the causal connection is between these factors but Barton (1989:13) notes that "post-coital abrasions in the foreskin is common in uncircumcised males."

Apparently unaware of the discussion of epidemiologists, some traditional healers at a November 1992 workshop in South Africa spontaneously reported they had discovered the importance of male circumcision through their own clinical experience (Green, Zokwe, and Dupree 1992). They noted that male repeat STD patients tend to be uncircumcised. Many such patients are said to have rashes, "dirt," or infections under their foreskins. Healers from societies that practice circumcision (e.g., Xhosas, Sothos) reported advising clients from non-circumcising societies (e.g., Zulus, Swazis) to become circumcised as a way to prevent STDs, and perhaps AIDS. Such clients were said to be complying by visiting hospitals or traditional healers to become circumcised. When asked about cultural resistance to circumcision in non-circumcising societies, a traditional healer observed, "When tradition and the health of our people are in conflict, it is tradition we must sacrifice."

Further research is warranted to determine the extent to which men in South Africa, and possibly elsewhere, are becoming circumcised as a result of preventive STD and/or AIDS education from traditional healers.

References:

Barton, Thomas, Sexuality and Health in Sub-Saharan Africa: an Annotated Bibliography. Research Triangle, North Carolina. Family Health International/AIDSTECH, 1989.

Bongaarts, J., P. Reining, P. Way and F. Conant, "The relationship between male circumcision and HIV infection in African populations." AIDS, 3(6):373-377, 1989.

Green, E.C., Zokwe, B., Dupree, J.D., "The Role of South African Traditional Healers in HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management." Arlington, Va.: Family Health International, AIDSCAP Project, Dec. 1992.

Greenblatt, R.M., Lukehart S.A., Plummer, F.A., Quinn T.C., Critchlow C.W., Ashley R.L., D'Costa L.J., Ndinya-Achola J.O., Corey L., Ronald A.R., "Genital ulceration as a risk factor for human immunodeficiency virus infection." Aids. 2(1):47-50, 1988.

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Write comment