Male circumcision and HIV prevention: operations research implications
International consultation report | Nairobi, Kenya, 21- 22 June 2007
A multidisciplinary group of 26 individuals experienced with the operational aspects of adolescent and adult male circumcision services in sub-Saharan Africa met 21-22 June 2007 to discuss operational aspects of adolescent and adult male circumcision programmes and to identify research priorities for the next 12 months. Consensus of the meeting was that, in the context of the failure of HIV prevention efforts in sub-Saharan Africa to more successfully end the epidemic, the March 2007 endorsement of male circumcision as an additional means of HIV prevention by United Nations co-sponsors and by attendees from health ministries and health care agencies in sub-Saharan Africa at the 5-7 May Eastern and Southern Africa Consultation on Safe Male Circumcision and HIV Prevention provided a unique opportunity for large-scale successful HIV prevention not previously possible. The year 2008 is seen as pivotal in the acceptance of scale-up as an HIV prevention strategy and the beginning of male circumcision programmes. As countries make individual decisions about adoption of male circumcision for HIV prevention, countries choosing to adopt this strategy will need to formulate goals and targets, and scale-up ways to meet them.