Male circumcision could reduce instances of HIV/AIDS in the developing world by almost 60 per cent, the UN has announced.

After international testing and expert consultation, UNAIDS and the World Heath Organisation declared male circumcision should be part of the HIV prevention package in developing nations worldwide.

Recent trials in Kenya, Uganda and South Africa using almost 11,000 HIV-negative men found heterosexual men with circumcisions had up to a 58 per cent reduced risk of the deadly virus.

Dr Kevin De Cock, Director of the HIV/AIDS department of WHO said in a press release the findings are a significant step forward in HIV prevention.

“Countries with high rates of heterosexual HIV infection and low rates of male circumcision now have an additional intervention which can reduce the risk of HIV infection in heterosexual men,” he said.

“Scaling up male circumcision in such countries will result in immediate benefit to individuals.”

These latest trials support findings of numerous studies which have found correlations between lower HIV prevelance in areas of Africa with higher circumcision rates.

Brian Haill, the President of the Australian AIDS Fund Inc. whose website has been promoting male circumcision for a number of years, said it was important such renowned international bodies had accepted the health benefits of circumcision.

“The recognition by the world's most authoritative health body, the World Health Organisation, that male circumcision can make a critical contribution to reducing the global HIV infection rate is hugely important,” he said.

“This vital information now needs to be sent around the world, promoted, and acted upon. The war against HIV/AIDS must utilise every weapon at its disposal and male circumcision is one such valuable and effective weapon.”

UNAIDS has however suggested it may take sometime before a large-scale promotion of male circumcision occurs, and has ruled out promoting forced male circumcision to governments.

UNAIDS chief scientist, Dr Catherine Hankins, said in an interview for UNaids.org that there were many issues to be considered before going ahead with promotion.

“We have to take into account the cultural issues – within cultures and faith traditions in which male circumcision is not considered acceptable,” she said.

Already, the Luo Council of Elders of South East Africa has said no to forced male circumcision due to cultural objections, even though UNAIDS estimates 2.8 million new infections occur annually in the region, and over 60 per cent of the global HIV positive population live in the region.

In South Africa, the 2005 Children’s Act prohibits circumcision for males under 16, except for medical or religious reasons.

Other concerns include the number of qualified doctors in regions with high HIV prevelance who are able to perform the surgery, as well as the dangers of adult circumcision compared with infant.

“Adult male circumcision has a higher risk of adverse effects than infant male circumcision and should be undertaken by trained health workers in safe, adequately equipped and sanitary conditions,” Dr Hankins said.

UNAIDS and WHO have made clear that male circumcision is not a complete protection against HIV, and men who consider circumcision must also continue to use other forms of protection.

UNAIDS estimates around 30 per cent of the male population is circumcised, while between 33 and 46 million people worldwide live with HIV.