2007-12-10 01:36:46 · 8 answers · asked by yjr1968 1 in Health ➔ Men's Health
Circumcision is practiced by many different cultures all over Africa. In the predominantly Muslim Northern and Western Africa, circumcision is practiced as a religious rite, while in Eastern and Southern Africa circumcision is considered as a rite of passage into manhood. As an initiation rite, it has been part of the various cultures that practice it for as long as people can remember. Although the different tribes have different circumcision ceremonies, there are still many things that they have in common.
The connection between circumcision and HIV infection on the African Continent has been studied in great detail. The reason for this is twofold: firstly, the majority of HIV infections occur in heterosexual persons, and secondly, circumcision is very often practiced by some tribes and not by others in the same geographical region. Epidemiologic evidence, accumulated over many years, has provided conclusive evidence that HIV infections are more prevalent among uncircumcised men. A recent study of more then ten thousand men in Tanzania has found that the risk of infection with the HIV virus during sexual intercourse is reduced by as much as a third in circumcised men. Many other independent studies have reached the same conclusion. One of the main reasons for the reduced risk of infection is the absence of the foreskin, which is very prone to injuries, makes it harder for the HIV virus to be transmitted.
2007-12-10 02:41:45 · answer #1 · answered by David J 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The comment above now really proves to me that America is run by the TV.
I herd on the news the computer pollute the environment more then cars. AND smoking tobacco now helps people relax and not get colds. I wouldn't believe any of this junk that's on the news.
It's funny they said that on the News because Africa circumcises both men and woman and they have the highest AID's rates in the world and THEN followed by the US. ALSO The World Health Organization apposes circumcision and there trying to get parents not to do it.
2007-12-14 05:53:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Muslims in Africa circumcise their sons, like Muslims everywhere. Israeli boys are almost all circumcised. A few other African tribes do it at or just before puberty. Female circumcision is common in the same groups. Most Africans, however, do not circumcise either their sons or their daughters.
The HIV studies in Africa were deeply flawed and did not take into account other tribal cultural differences beyond circumcision. The incidence of AIDS is directly related to the prevalence of and acceptance of prostitution. The infamous circumcision studies found that men who were still sore or otherwise sexually impaired from their surgery got HIV less often than men following the usual promiscuous sexual practices of the area. Duh! They stopped the study before any meaningful data could be recorded.
2007-12-10 12:28:43 · answer #3 · answered by Maple 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Western cultures (USA) are trying to promote circumcision in Africa because it "gives resistance" to AIDS and HIV, but as far as I know, it's not a common occurrence. Circumcision offers no such protection, because if you think long on it, how will a lack of skin make you any less able to receive a disease from a partner? Circumcised men get it all the time, and since the majority of USA is circumcised, well that seems to blow a hole in that theory.
2007-12-10 09:58:19 · answer #4 · answered by Oleander 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Circumcision is basically a tribal ritual anywhere on earth that it's practiced, and varies from tribe to tribe as to the age of the boy and the procedure used. Aside from Western (Judeo-Christian-Islamic) culture where it's performed on newborns, it's most often performed on pre-adolescent boys (between 8 and 12) as a rite of passage into manhood, with a knife or ceremonial sharp rock, with or without some form of narcotic.
2007-12-10 11:02:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
The World Health Organization is trying to get all men in Africa circumcised to reduce the AIDS epidemic there! The USA is funding most of the circ's! So more than likely all of Africa will be 100% circumcised in a year or so!
2007-12-10 14:15:59 · answer #6 · answered by surfnyogadude 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
If it's done (and it is done), it's a 'rite of passage' signifying passage into adulthood. Of course, in most cases, there's no anesthesia used, and the way it's done varies. Usually, it's just pull the foreskin forward and it's cut with a knife. No precautions are taken for infection, etc. For some interesting stories, see http://www.circlist.com
There's a section on Africa and it's some interesting reading.
2007-12-10 09:54:48 · answer #7 · answered by John N 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
They don't do it
2007-12-10 09:40:28 · answer #8 · answered by Adam S. 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋