Nerve Endings Firing Away

More on AIDS watch. A South African study found that circumcision reduced the rate of HIV infection among heterosexual men by almost 60%. If slicing off the foreskin of a penis can reduce their risk of getting AIDS, then some might be tempted to do the unthinkable (at least for some). The science behind the study suggests that circumcision protects against HIV because cells under the foreskin are vulnerable to the virus. But men, hold your knives! The study hasn’t yet been completely verified and research studies on any godforsaken topic are dime a dozen these days and should not be taken at face value immediately. The research scientists, of course were wary of the implications of their study and immediately inserted a caveat that condoms were the best form of protection, cut or uncut (not the condoms, you bozo).

The research design of the study was as follows:

“Just fewer than 3,280 young, sexually active, uncircumcised, heterosexual men who took part in the study were offered the chance to be circumcised and then monitored for HIV infection. Just under half chose to be circumcised.

The researchers planned to test all participants for HIV at three, 12 and 21 months, to see whether there was a difference in the rate of new infections between the two groups.

However, after 18 months, the number of new HIV infections in the control group was 49, compared with 20 in the treatment group.”

If true and scientifically verifiable, it might have certain cultural and social implications for public health. Those familiar with demographic differences in India relating specifically to the organ in question might even ask, if ‘certain sections’ of the society are less vulnerable than others. Similar demographics differences even exist in the Western world. Cure for AIDS is not yet possible but it might certainly help to know what factors diminish chances of infection. Circumcision has deep rooted religious connotations that might make it difficult to implement if found to be effective against HIV infection. We can’t seem to convince people to take polio vaccines let alone even suggest such an extreme measure.

Of course, if true and implemented, is it going to make the job of marauding Shiv Sena goons during riots difficult? Also, should India Uncut be worried?