Tackling HIV/AIDS as a Contemporary Social Problem in Sub-Saharan Africa: ‘A Sociological Critique of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) as a Preventive Measure’

Eliphas Machacha

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ss.20150403.16

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Tackling HIV/AIDS as a Contemporary Social Problem in Sub-Saharan Africa: ‘A Sociological Critique of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) as a Preventive Measure’

Eliphas Machacha

Published in Social Sciences (Volume 4, Issue 3)

Received: 12 May 2015 Accepted: 20 May 2015 Published: 9 June 2015

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Abstract

Background: In view of all the recorded devastation it is causing to society and human life, HIV/AIDS appears to be in possession of all the characteristics of a contemporary social problem facing the world today, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa. Voluntary Medical Male circumcision (VMMC) in Africa and in many other parts of the world is being heralded as the new “fix” to HIV/AIDS pandemic – which has been termed as “prevention technology.” The aim of this paper is to critique the widely held belief and argument that male circumcision is or can be used as a preventive measure against HIV infection in Sub-Saharan Africa and other parts of the world. Methods: This article uses the available and abundant empirical data from various epidemiological studies on the subject of male circumcision status and HIV prevention, and national demographic health surveys from a few Sub-Saharan African Countries. Outcome: Empirical evidence from Africa and other parts of the world has clearly indicated that male circumcision has never been and cannot be a preventive measure against heterosexually HIV infection. In fact, empirical data have pointed to the contrary. The relation between male circumcision status and HIV infection has not been in the expected direction, that- male circumcision reduces the risk of HIV infection. Conclusion: The paper concludes that abundant empirical data on male circumcision status and HIV infection do not support the widely held view and argument that male circumcision reduces heterosexual HIV infection.

Published in	Social Sciences (Volume 4, Issue 3)
DOI	10.11648/j.ss.20150403.16
Page(s)	68-76
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2015. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Contemporary Social Problems, Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC), HIV/AIDS, Randomised Controlled Clinical Trials (RCCTS), Epidemiology, Politics, Sociology

References

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Eliphas Machacha. (2015). Tackling HIV/AIDS as a Contemporary Social Problem in Sub-Saharan Africa: ‘A Sociological Critique of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) as a Preventive Measure’. Social Sciences, 4(3), 68-76. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20150403.16

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ACS Style

Eliphas Machacha. Tackling HIV/AIDS as a Contemporary Social Problem in Sub-Saharan Africa: ‘A Sociological Critique of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) as a Preventive Measure’. Soc. Sci. 2015, 4(3), 68-76. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20150403.16

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AMA Style

Eliphas Machacha. Tackling HIV/AIDS as a Contemporary Social Problem in Sub-Saharan Africa: ‘A Sociological Critique of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) as a Preventive Measure’. Soc Sci. 2015;4(3):68-76. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20150403.16

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@article{10.11648/j.ss.20150403.16,
  author = {Eliphas Machacha},
  title = {Tackling HIV/AIDS as a Contemporary Social Problem in Sub-Saharan Africa: ‘A Sociological Critique of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) as a Preventive Measure’},
  journal = {Social Sciences},
  volume = {4},
  number = {3},
  pages = {68-76},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ss.20150403.16},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20150403.16},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ss.20150403.16},
  abstract = {Background: In view of all the recorded devastation it is causing to society and human life, HIV/AIDS appears to be in possession of all the characteristics of a contemporary social problem facing the world today, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa. Voluntary Medical Male circumcision (VMMC) in Africa and in many other parts of the world is being heralded as the new “fix” to HIV/AIDS pandemic – which has been termed as “prevention technology.” The aim of this paper is to critique the widely held belief and argument that male circumcision is or can be used as a preventive measure against HIV infection in Sub-Saharan Africa and other parts of the world. Methods: This article uses the available and abundant empirical data from various epidemiological studies on the subject of male circumcision status and HIV prevention, and national demographic health surveys from a few Sub-Saharan African Countries. Outcome: Empirical evidence from Africa and other parts of the world has clearly indicated that male circumcision has never been and cannot be a preventive measure against heterosexually HIV infection. In fact, empirical data have pointed to the contrary. The relation between male circumcision status and HIV infection has not been in the expected direction, that- male circumcision reduces the risk of HIV infection. Conclusion: The paper concludes that abundant empirical data on male circumcision status and HIV infection do not support the widely held view and argument that male circumcision reduces heterosexual HIV infection.},
 year = {2015}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Tackling HIV/AIDS as a Contemporary Social Problem in Sub-Saharan Africa: ‘A Sociological Critique of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) as a Preventive Measure’
AU  - Eliphas Machacha
Y1  - 2015/06/09
PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20150403.16
DO  - 10.11648/j.ss.20150403.16
T2  - Social Sciences
JF  - Social Sciences
JO  - Social Sciences
SP  - 68
EP  - 76
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2326-988X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20150403.16
AB  - Background: In view of all the recorded devastation it is causing to society and human life, HIV/AIDS appears to be in possession of all the characteristics of a contemporary social problem facing the world today, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa. Voluntary Medical Male circumcision (VMMC) in Africa and in many other parts of the world is being heralded as the new “fix” to HIV/AIDS pandemic – which has been termed as “prevention technology.” The aim of this paper is to critique the widely held belief and argument that male circumcision is or can be used as a preventive measure against HIV infection in Sub-Saharan Africa and other parts of the world. Methods: This article uses the available and abundant empirical data from various epidemiological studies on the subject of male circumcision status and HIV prevention, and national demographic health surveys from a few Sub-Saharan African Countries. Outcome: Empirical evidence from Africa and other parts of the world has clearly indicated that male circumcision has never been and cannot be a preventive measure against heterosexually HIV infection. In fact, empirical data have pointed to the contrary. The relation between male circumcision status and HIV infection has not been in the expected direction, that- male circumcision reduces the risk of HIV infection. Conclusion: The paper concludes that abundant empirical data on male circumcision status and HIV infection do not support the widely held view and argument that male circumcision reduces heterosexual HIV infection.
VL  - 4
IS  - 3
ER  -

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Author Information

Eliphas Machacha

The University of Zambia, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Social Development Studies, Sociology Division, Lusaka, Zambia

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Eliphas Machacha. (2015). Tackling HIV/AIDS as a Contemporary Social Problem in Sub-Saharan Africa: ‘A Sociological Critique of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) as a Preventive Measure’. Social Sciences, 4(3), 68-76. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20150403.16

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ACS Style

Eliphas Machacha. Tackling HIV/AIDS as a Contemporary Social Problem in Sub-Saharan Africa: ‘A Sociological Critique of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) as a Preventive Measure’. Soc. Sci. 2015, 4(3), 68-76. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20150403.16

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Eliphas Machacha. Tackling HIV/AIDS as a Contemporary Social Problem in Sub-Saharan Africa: ‘A Sociological Critique of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) as a Preventive Measure’. Soc Sci. 2015;4(3):68-76. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20150403.16

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@article{10.11648/j.ss.20150403.16,
  author = {Eliphas Machacha},
  title = {Tackling HIV/AIDS as a Contemporary Social Problem in Sub-Saharan Africa: ‘A Sociological Critique of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) as a Preventive Measure’},
  journal = {Social Sciences},
  volume = {4},
  number = {3},
  pages = {68-76},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ss.20150403.16},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20150403.16},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ss.20150403.16},
  abstract = {Background: In view of all the recorded devastation it is causing to society and human life, HIV/AIDS appears to be in possession of all the characteristics of a contemporary social problem facing the world today, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa. Voluntary Medical Male circumcision (VMMC) in Africa and in many other parts of the world is being heralded as the new “fix” to HIV/AIDS pandemic – which has been termed as “prevention technology.” The aim of this paper is to critique the widely held belief and argument that male circumcision is or can be used as a preventive measure against HIV infection in Sub-Saharan Africa and other parts of the world. Methods: This article uses the available and abundant empirical data from various epidemiological studies on the subject of male circumcision status and HIV prevention, and national demographic health surveys from a few Sub-Saharan African Countries. Outcome: Empirical evidence from Africa and other parts of the world has clearly indicated that male circumcision has never been and cannot be a preventive measure against heterosexually HIV infection. In fact, empirical data have pointed to the contrary. The relation between male circumcision status and HIV infection has not been in the expected direction, that- male circumcision reduces the risk of HIV infection. Conclusion: The paper concludes that abundant empirical data on male circumcision status and HIV infection do not support the widely held view and argument that male circumcision reduces heterosexual HIV infection.},
 year = {2015}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Tackling HIV/AIDS as a Contemporary Social Problem in Sub-Saharan Africa: ‘A Sociological Critique of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) as a Preventive Measure’
AU  - Eliphas Machacha
Y1  - 2015/06/09
PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20150403.16
DO  - 10.11648/j.ss.20150403.16
T2  - Social Sciences
JF  - Social Sciences
JO  - Social Sciences
SP  - 68
EP  - 76
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2326-988X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20150403.16
AB  - Background: In view of all the recorded devastation it is causing to society and human life, HIV/AIDS appears to be in possession of all the characteristics of a contemporary social problem facing the world today, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa. Voluntary Medical Male circumcision (VMMC) in Africa and in many other parts of the world is being heralded as the new “fix” to HIV/AIDS pandemic – which has been termed as “prevention technology.” The aim of this paper is to critique the widely held belief and argument that male circumcision is or can be used as a preventive measure against HIV infection in Sub-Saharan Africa and other parts of the world. Methods: This article uses the available and abundant empirical data from various epidemiological studies on the subject of male circumcision status and HIV prevention, and national demographic health surveys from a few Sub-Saharan African Countries. Outcome: Empirical evidence from Africa and other parts of the world has clearly indicated that male circumcision has never been and cannot be a preventive measure against heterosexually HIV infection. In fact, empirical data have pointed to the contrary. The relation between male circumcision status and HIV infection has not been in the expected direction, that- male circumcision reduces the risk of HIV infection. Conclusion: The paper concludes that abundant empirical data on male circumcision status and HIV infection do not support the widely held view and argument that male circumcision reduces heterosexual HIV infection.
VL  - 4
IS  - 3
ER  -

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