Economists Say Adult Circumcision Not Best Anti-HIV Tactic

A cost-benefit analysis of HIV/AIDS investments in sub-Saharan Africa suggests that more resources should be channeled toward vaccine research, an expert panel of economists reported Wednesday. The study, conducted by the panel for Denmark’s state-funded Copenhagen Consensus Center (CCC), evaluated the costs of various interventions per lives saved.

Adult male circumcision can reduce the risk of female-to-male HIV transmission by about 60 percent. But increasing annual AIDS vaccine spending would be a better investment because it could potentially eradicate the disease, said Bjorn Lomborg, CCC’s director.

Preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission, promoting infant male circumcision, and improving blood supply safety also would be high-value investments, the panel said. These interventions “are so cheap and effective” they leap to the top of cost-effective interventions, Lomborg said.

While the World Bank and US State Department support adult male circumcision to prevent HIV, Lomborg said the effort would require “a large public campaign to get people into the clinic.” Recruiting volunteers would not be easy, and “it could cause more risky behavior,” he said.

However, adult male circumcision could be likened to a vaccine, since it cuts infection risk by 60 percent, said Marelize Gorgens, HIV prevention coordinator at the World Bank, who disagrees with the economists. “We need to spend money on things we know work,” Gorgens said.

For more information about CCC, visit: http://www.copenhagenconsensus.com/CCC%20Home%20Page.aspx.

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.

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