 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / AIDS / December 2008More evidence that circumcision doesn't reduce likelihood of HIV transmission
<http://www.circumcisionandhiv.com/>: ----- Begin Quote ----- No statistically significant difference in HIV prevalence between circumcised and intact men, South African Medical Journal reports The South African Medical Journal has published a new analysis of a subset of 3025 men. Circumcision did not appear to be associated with HIV status. "One third of men (35.3%) were circumcised. Being over 50, African, living in rural areas and speaking SePedi (71.2%), IsiXhosa (64.3%) were strongly associated with circumcision. The median age was significantly older for Africans (18 yr) compared to other racial groups (3.5 yr), p < 0.001. Among Africans, circumcisions were mainly conducted outside hospital setting. In 40.5%, circumcision took place after sexual debut; Two thirds of men were circumcised after their 17th birthday were already sexually active. HIV and circumcision were not associated (12.3% vs 12%). HIV was, however, significantly lower in men circumcised before 12 yrs (6.8%) compared to over 12 yrs of age (13.5%), p = 0.02. When restricted to sexually active men, the difference that remained did not reach statistical significance (8.9% vs 13.6%, p = 0.08.)." The difference between those circumcised at a younger age and those circumcised at a later age likely has something to do with socio-economic factors. This is essentially a demographic study. As in previous studies of circumcision viz STDs and other conditions, this study contradicts other studies, which in turn contradict this study, embodying the very definition of "irreproducible." Edit: And in case it requires spelling it out, irreproducible means no meaningful association between the two variables under study. ----- End Quote -----  Signature<http://www.hiv-poz.co.uk/> 5,038 days and counting... > <http://www.circumcisionandhiv.com/>: > [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > > ----- End Quote ----- As Connolly et al. acknowledge, their findings were inconsistent with the majority of results reported in the literature, including the three randomised controlled trials which represent the strongest evidence available. Unfortunately anomalies such as this sometimes occur. In this case, strong associations were observed between circumcision and socio-demographic factors (see table 2), which may act as confounding factors. There is a reason, after all, why experimental studies (ie. RCTs) are performed in spite of their expense, and that reason is that observational studies are not by themselves completely reliable. http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/article/viewFile/254/2144 Jake > No statistically significant difference in HIV prevalence between > circumcised and intact men, South African Medical Journal reports But HIV doesn't exist according to you. How can a non-existent virus be transmitted? > "One third of men (35.3%) were circumcised. Being over 50, African, > living in rural areas and speaking SePedi (71.2%), IsiXhosa (64.3%) [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > difference that remained did not reach statistical significance (8.9% > vs 13.6%, p = 0.08.)." The last numbers are informative, I would think. Apart from that, there is likely some social differences between circumcised and uncircumcised men that would explain it. That's not ad hoc, because there is so much evidence to support a circumcision/HIV link, that a contrary study is preferably explained without overturning that consensus. > The difference between those circumcised at a younger age and those > circumcised at a later age likely has something to do with > socio-economic factors. You believe this, but not that 'socio-economic factors' could exist between those not circumcised at all and those that are circumcised? Special pleading! > This is essentially a demographic study. As in > previous studies of circumcision viz STDs and other conditions, this > study contradicts other studies, which in turn contradict this study, > embodying the very definition of "irreproducible." Wrong. Andrew Usher Martin uses exactly the same approach to denying the link between circumcision and HIV as he does to denying the link between HIV and AIDS. He picks on any minor anomaly he can find and and convinces himself that it invalidates the rest of the scientific research on the issue., even when that research is rock solid. This is the same approach that tobacco companies used for decades to question the link between smoking and lung cancer. > Martin uses exactly the same approach to denying the link between > circumcision and HIV as he does to denying the link between HIV and [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > approach that tobacco companies used for decades to question the link > between smoking and lung cancer. If circumcision is the magic preventative for HIV infection, how come South Africa is the 'epicenter' of HIV/AIDS, when traditional societies (Xhosa, Zulu) already practice circumcision? Remember of course that there have been 'epicenters' before. The Rakai District of Uganda, the mythical depopulated villages of Kenya... The HIV/AIDS scam is winding down. Alex > > Martin uses exactly the same approach to denying the link between > > circumcision and HIV as he does to denying the link between HIV and [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > when traditional societies (Xhosa, Zulu) already practice > circumcision? The circumcision-HIV link is proven as well as anything is in medicine. This argument is not valid. > Remember of course that there have been 'epicenters' before. > The Rakai District of Uganda, the mythical depopulated > villages of Kenya... > > The HIV/AIDS scam is winding down. The HIV denial scam winds down as you people die of AIDS. Andrew Usher > If circumcision is the magic preventative for HIV infection, Who said it was? It is being promoted by the World Health Organization and other bodies as one of several strategies against HIV, because over 40 studies, including three exentensive random control trials, have shown beyond any question that it significantl reduces HIV transmission. > how come South Africa is the 'epicenter' of HIV/AIDS, Im not sure that you know what "epicenter" means. South Africa has the largest absolute number of HIV cases for two main reasons: a) President Mbeki did not believe HIV caused AIDS. It was government policy to provide inadequate or misleading HIV education, so many people practiced unsafe sex in the belief it could do them no harm. The medical response to AIDS was grossly misdirected, with garlic, beetroot, and lemon juice offered instead of drug treatments that could lower viral levels and thus reduce the likelihood of transmission. This denial has had a terrible toll on the lives and health of the population. b) South Africa has a large uncircumcised population, not only among its indigenous population but also among the huge number of refugees and illegal migrants who pour into the country from other parts of Africa, particularly the predominantly uncircumcised and AIDS ravaged countries to the immediate north. > when traditional societies (Xhosa, Zulu) already practice > circumcision? The Zulu do not practice circumcision. <http://www.circumcisionandhiv.com/>: ----- Begin Quote ----- >>No statistically significant difference in HIV prevalence between >>circumcised and intact men, South African Medical Journal reports ----- End Quote ----- >But HIV doesn't exist according to you. How can a non-existent >virus be transmitted? Good question, which proves the point I make. HIV does not exist, therefore it cannot be transmitted from one person to another. Thus, anyone who claims there's a method that reduces the likelihood of HIV transmission is wrong. Signature<http://www.hiv-poz.co.uk/> 5,041 days and counting... see below Signature-- > > <http://www.circumcisionandhiv.com/>: [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > to another. Thus, anyone who claims there's a method that reduces the > likelihood of HIV transmission is wrong. |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2009 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.