Male circumcision in Kenya campaign
Introduction
Traditionally, In Kenya, all tribes had a rite of passage for both male and female. Different
practices were practiced to mark the rite of passage that was seen as moving from child hood to
adulthood. Most communities practiced circumcision of all genders. Some tribes however did not
practice the removal of foreskin they instead removed some front teeth to mark their rite of
passage.
Today Circumcision of females is discouraged while Circumcision of males is highly
encouraged.
Male Circumcision
Definition
Male circumcision is the surgical removal of some or all of the foreskin (or prepuce) from the
penis (Alanis M, & Lucidi RS, 2004).
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Research has shown that Circumcision of male reduces infection of HIV virus (Bailey et al,
2007, Gray et, al, 2007, Reynolds, 2004) and this has led to campaigns from the nongovernmental organizations and the government encouraging the men that did were not
circumcised to participate in the exercise. Mobile outreach clinics have been put in place to reach
out to men especially in Nyanza province of Kenya.
Linkage between Male Circumcision and Spread of HIV
Some laboratory studies have shown that specific cells in the foreskin may be potential targets
for HIV infection. The foreskin is susceptible to tears during intercourse and this tear provide an
entry for pathogens like bacteria and HIV and also the skin under the foreskin becomes less
sensitive and is less likely to bleed reducing risk of infection following circumcision.
Specific bacteria taxonomically defined as anaerobic dominated the microbiota of the
penile coronal sulcus before circumcision. However, after circumcision, these bacteria
decreased dramatically. Thus, the reduction in the putative anaerobic bacteria after
circumcision may play a role in protection from HIV and other sexually transmitted
diseases (The Translational Genomics Research Institute, 2010).
However this should not mean that men should have unprotected sex, or consider themselves
“protected”, getting circumcised would enable heterosexual men lower their risk of getting
infections (The Translational Genomics Research Institute, 2010).
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References
Alanis MC, Lucidi RS. (2004 May).Neonatal circumcision: a review of the world's oldest and
most controversial operation. Obstet Gynecol Surv.;59(5):379-95.
Bailey, R. C., Moses, S., Parker, C. B., Agot, K., Maclean, I., Krieger, J. N., ... & NdinyaAchola, J. O. (2007). Male circumcision for HIV prevention in young men in Kisumu,
Kenya: a randomised controlled trial. The Lancet, 369(9562), 643-656.
Gray, R. H., Kigozi, G., Serwadda, D., Makumbi, F., Watya, S., Nalugoda, F., ... & Wawer, M. J.
(2007). Male circumcision for HIV prevention in men in Rakai, Uganda: a randomised
trial. The Lancet, 369(9562), 657-666.
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (2010, January 6). Why circumcised men are less
likely to become infected with HIV: Changes in bacteria within penis microbiome.
ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 6, 2013, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100106003617.htm/
Reynolds, S. J., Shepherd, M. E., Risbud, A. R., Gangakhedkar, R. R., Brookmeyer, R. S.,
Divekar, A. D. & Bollinger, R. C. (2004). Male circumcision and risk of HIV-1 and other
sexually transmitted infections in India. The Lancet, 363(9414), 1039-1040.
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