USA: No evidence that being circumcised was protective against HIV

UNITED STATES: "Circumcision Status and HIV Infection Among Black
and Latino Men Who Have Sex with Men in Three US Cities"

2007 National HIV Prevention Conference Abstract Book Presentation number C01-4; P. 19-20 (12..07):: G.A. Millett; H. Ding; J. Lauby; S. Flores; A. Stueve; T. Bingham; A. Carballo-Dieguez; C. Murrill; K. Liu; D. Wheeler; A. Liau; G. Marks

The researchers undertook the current study to "examine characteristics of circumcised and uncircumcised black and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States and assess the association between circumcision and HIV infection."

In New York City, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles, respondent driven sampling was used to recruit 1,154 black MSM and 1,091 Latino MSM. The researchers administered a 45-minute computer-assisted interview and a rapid-result oral fluid HIV antibody test (manufactured by
OraSure Technologies Inc.).

Seventy-four percent of the black MSM were circumcised, compared to 33 percent of the Latino MSM (P<.0001). In both racial/ethnic groups, circumcised MSM were more likely than those uncircumcised to be born in the United States or to have a US-born parent.

The authors found that circumcision status was not associated with prevalent HIV infection among Latino MSM, black MSM, black bisexual males, or black or Latino men who reported testing HIV-negative at their last test. Circumcision was found not to be associated with a
reduced likelihood of HIV infection among men who engaged in unprotected insertive anal sex and not unprotected receptive anal sex.

"In these cross-sectional data, there was no evidence that being circumcised was protective against HIV infection among black MSM or Latino MSM," the authors concluded.

CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update 12/05/2007