Should circumcision be promoted in Myanmar? Thoughts? Comments?

[him] moderator

++++++++++++++++++++

Doctor urges Myanmar to consider circumcision and reduce HIV risk
Khin Myat
Myanmar Times
November 15 - 21, 2010

ALTHOUGH male circum-cision can reduce the risk of HIV infection in men, the procedure is not popular in Myanmar because people think it is unnecessary, an official from Marie Stopes International (Myanmar) said.

Circumcision is a surgical procedure in which all or part of the foreskin is removed by making a surgical cut around the head of the penis.

Dr Sid Naing, the country director of Marie Stopes International (Myanmar), said that in 2007 the World Health Organisation recommended male circumcision as a method to prevent HIV, and said African countries with the highest HIV prevalence in the world could use this method to reduce infection rates.

Foreskin tears that may occur during intercourse provide an entryway for the virus, and it traps HIV in a moist environment near the surface of the penis, allowing the HIV to live longer, Dr Sid Naing said.

He added that men who were circumcised also have a reduced risk of contracting sexually transmitted infectious diseases such as herpes, syphilis and gonorrhoea because of the hygiene benefits.

Dr Sid Naing said some medical reports had been written about low incid-ence of cervical cancer in Jewish women because of male circumcision.

He said that despite the benefits of circumcision, people in some countries, including Myanmar, continue to assume the procedure is unnecessary.

“Myanmar people are reluctant to go to hospitals even if they suffer disease,” he said. “Similarly, they believe circumcision is unnecessary but, from a health perspective, we should promote these customs among our people.”

http://mmtimes.com/2010/news/549/news54918.html