Andy > in most cases, aids is spread by uncut males
Absolutely true.
In Africa, there is a significant difference in the rate of infection with the AIDS virus between those tribes which practice circumcision and those which don't. For example in South Africa, the Zulus do not practice it and their infection rate is 25-30% while the Northern Sothos, who do, have a rate around 10%. In fact, circumcision before the age of twelve is probably the most important preventive measure against AIDS that an African can use (other than abstinence or condoms, of course, neither of which methods have much local appeal!)
Unfortunately, most Africans who practice circumcision have it done ritually at an older age and then it doesn't seem to offer much help. Thus, it would seem that, in order to be effective in the prevention of the transmission of the virus, the terminal skin of the glans penis has to has to become quite hard before sexual intercourse is commenced. |
