Yes, the ‘cut’ works

Said Dr Siegfried in her statement: “After including new data from these trials in their review, Cochrane researchers have changed their previous conclusions that there was insufficient evidence to recommend circumcision as an intervention to prevent HIV infection in heterosexual men.”

Despite their endorsement, the Cochrane researchers are careful to put caveats to their new stand.

For one, they say, they do not know how circumcision could affect transmission after two years, since no published study has gone on for that long.

Further, they say, they do they know whether circumcision lowers the risk for female sex partners.

The Cochrane researchers also admit that they are not sure how circumcision proffers protection against HIV, although it has been postulated that it does this by removing Langerhan cells, which are found in the inner side of the prepuce. The cells have receptors that act as doorways for HIV.

HIV experts also say that in the uncircumcised, the foreskin could also raise the risk of infection by retaining infected fluids.

The Cochrane Collaboration is a nonprofit, independent organization reviews health research, especially on public health interventions, to authenticate their findings and recommendations.

Through these reviews, the Centre seeks to improve healthcare decision-making on such public health areas as the use of bed-nets and circumcision.