Circumcision and prevention of HIV and AIDS in Zimbabwe: Male genital cutting as a religio-cultural rite

Abstract

Circumcision originated from ancient religious (biblical) and cultural societies. Study has shown that in both the biblical (Israelite) context and among the Karanga people in Zimbabwe circumcision emerged as a rite of passage for a boy child’s entry into manhood. Modern societies promulgate circumcision as a preventive method against HIV and AIDS. The present study argues that circumcision tends to promote irresponsible sexual behaviour and trivialises the sacredness of sex. (1) To safeguard societies against the belief that circumcision prevents HIV and AIDS. (2) To sensitise societies that abstinence and condom usage will serve as preventive methods against HIV and AIDS. The study utilises two complimentary methods: (1) comparative literary method which examines both biblical and cultural initiation procedures and (2) qualitative research method in which an interview forms part of the data pool. The potential of a scientific contribution towards transforming both the mind and lifestyle can be guaranteed. The number of individuals opting to be circumcised will decline, and abstinence and condom usage should be promoted towards the prevention of HIV and AIDS. In both ancient Israel and among the Karanga people of Zimbabwe, circumcision was performed as a religious and cultural procedure. In both contexts circumcision was regarded as a rite of passage to prepare a boy child for entry into manhood. The article argued that circumcision does not prevent HIV and AIDS. To the contrary, circumcision tends to endorse promiscuity and unprotected sex, with a potential of increasing HIV and AIDS prevalence.

Use of herbal formulations for the treatment of circumcision wounds in Eastern and Southern Africa

“…Therefore, traditional male circumcision procedure relies heavily on traditional medicines to Research into medicinal uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of medicinal plants used to treat and manage circumcision wounds offers tremendous potential for developing new pharmaceutical health products and drugs. Although conventional medical circumcision is popular in some urban African cities as the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended male circumcision as part of a comprehensive programme for preventing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission in areas with high endemic rates (24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31), traditional male circumcision is still widely practised in Eastern and Southern Africa (1)(2)(3)(4). Studies are there (29) arguing that the emergency of HIV has brought the ancient traditional male circumcision on spot light as a result of recent studies which have demonstrated that it does not only reduce the rate of HIV infection but the ancient procedure also reduces penile cancer and cervical cancer.…”