Cutting down on wanton sex, using condoms and applying the strictest safeguards before blood transfusion may be crucial to Aids prevention.
The council says it reduces HIV infection, but religious groups call it anti-Hindu
LUCKNOW: Cutting down on wanton sex, using condoms and applying the strictest safeguards before blood transfusion may be crucial to Aids prevention, but latest research adds another, rather controversial, chapter in the prevention of the deadly disease - male circumcision.
Based on field trials in sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) has launched a pilot project to test the waters with regard to acceptance of male circumcision as an effective tool to prevent Aids.
“The project is still in its infancy. We are only testing the attitude of men from non-Muslim communities to male circumcision,” says Dr Rukma Idnani, head of gynaecology at Meerut Medical College and in-charge of the ICMR project here.
Being conducted in collaboration with National Aids Research Institute, Pune, the ICMR has chosen Meerut Medical College as one of the nodal centres for initial field work for the project. Surveys would also be conducted in Karnataka, Maharashtra and West Bengal.
Recent studies in southern Africa have shown that circumcised males are 60% less likely to acquire the HIV infection as compared to those not circumcised. The ICMR project, however, has all the grist to set the controversy mills in motion, given its religious overtones. In India, male circumcision or sunnat is practised only by Muslims.
Bajrang Dal workers in Meerut have already launched a campaign against the survey. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has also reacted strongly.
“This is obnoxious. Has there been a study done on the spread of HIV/Aids within the different religious communities in India? Anyway, we are not going to tolerate such a conspiracy against Hindus,” a furious BP Singhal, senior VHP leader, said.
“The entire thing is grossly misunderstood. We don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings. Our work is based on international research and at this stage, we are only testing attitudes. We are not enforcing anything,” contends Dr Idnani.
A recent ICMR report says circumcision protects men against the infection. “The foreskin has certain receptor cells which aid the entry of the virus into the body. It also provides more space where the virus can stay for a longer time.” Low rates of male circumcision in a majority of communities have been identified as one of the biological factors behind sexual transmission of HIV, the report says. It quotes a study in the Luo ethnic group in Kenya which showed that 10% of circumcised men and 25% of uncircumcised ones were HIV seropositive. Another study in Uganda showed pre-pubertal circumcision is associated with a reduced HIV risk, whereas circumcision after 20 years of age is not significantly protective against HIV-1 infection.
According to a UN Aids report, the South Africa Orange Farm Intervention Trial funded by the French Agence nationale de recherches sur le sida demonstrated at least 60% reduction in HIV infection among circumcised men.
The findings may be convincing, but as is the wont in our country, the concept of male circumcision for all is sure to hit the roadblock due to political or religious considerations.
g_deepak@dnaindia.net
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