SEXUAL DIFFERENTIATION in SOCIALIZATION and SOME MALE GENITAL MUTILATIONS<sup>1</sup>

Harrington, C.

doi:10.1525/aa.1968.70.5.02a00120

Cited by 16 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…Although traditional forms of male circumcision involving the full removal of the foreskin have been practised since ancient times [24][25][26], and remain comparatively widespread globally, the dorsal longitudinal foreskin cut (often referred to as "superincision" in the anthropological literature) has only been reported in a small number of societies worldwide, principally as part of male initiation rituals in parts of Polynesia [27][28][29][30], Solomon Islands [29], PNG [5,29,31,32], and western Borneo [33]. The dorsal longitudinal cut has become widespread in contemporary PNG society [4,6] including in communities that did not conduct genital cutting as part of male initiation in the pre-colonial era; and is now conducted secretly, without associated ritual or ceremony, and appears driven by a perception that it leads to greater sexual pleasure and improved genital hygiene [5,6].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dorsal longitudinal foreskin cut is associated with reduced risk of HIV, syphilis and genital herpes in men: a cross‐sectional study in Papua New Guinea

Vallely

MacLaren

David

et al. 2017

Journal of the International AIDS Society

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Introduction: Various forms of penile foreskin cutting are practised in Papua New Guinea. In the context of an ecological association observed between HIV infection and the dorsal longitudinal foreskin cut, we undertook an investigation of this relationship at the individual level.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among men attending voluntary confidential HIV counselling and testing clinics. Following informed consent, participants had a face-to-face interview and an examination to categorize foreskin status. HIV testing was conducted on site and relevant specimens collected for laboratory-based Herpes simplex type-2 (HSV-2), syphilis, Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) testing.Results: Overall, 1073 men were enrolled: 646 (60.2%) were uncut; 339 (31.6%) had a full dorsal longitudinal cut; 72 (6.7%) a partial dorsal longitudinal cut; and 14 (1.3%) were circumcised. Overall, the prevalence of HIV was 12.3%; HSV-2, 33.6%; active syphilis, 12.1%; CT, 13.4%; NG, 14.1%; and TV 7.6%. Compared with uncut men, men with a full dorsal longitudinal cut were significantly less likely to have HIV (adjusted odds ratio [adjOR] 0.25, 95%CI: 0.12, 0.51); HSV-2 (adjOR 0.60, 95%CI: 0.41, 0.87); or active syphilis (adjOR 0.55, 95%CI: 0.31, 0.96). This apparent protective effect was restricted to men cut prior to sexual debut. There was no difference between cut and uncut men for CT, NG or TV.Conclusions: In this large cross-sectional study, men with a dorsal longitudinal foreskin cut were significantly less likely to have HIV, HSV-2 and syphilis compared with uncut men, despite still having a complete (albeit morphologically altered) foreskin. The protective effect of the dorsal cut suggests that the mechanism by which male circumcision works is not simply due to the removal of the inner foreskin and its more easily accessible HIV target cells. Exposure of the penile glans and inner foreskin appear to be key mechanisms by which male circumcision confers protection.Further research in this unique setting will help improve our understanding of the fundamental immunohistologic mechanisms by which male circumcision provides protection, and may lead to new biomedical prevention strategies at the mucosal level.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dorsal longitudinal foreskin cut is associated with reduced risk of HIV, syphilis and genital herpes in men: a cross‐sectional study in Papua New Guinea

Vallely

MacLaren

David

et al. 2017

Journal of the International AIDS Society

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Genital cutting, male

Darby¹

2015

The International Encyclopedia of Human Sexuality

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This entry covers culturally‐motivated alterations of the male genitals, particularly ritual operations on the foreskin, including excision (circumcision), slitting, and enhancement. The entry considers the main reasons some traditional and tribal societies perform bodily alterations on both males and females (usually as children, or at puberty as part of a rite marking the transition to adult status), and then gives more detailed consideration to circumcision of young males in tribal societies, in Judaism and in Islam. It also discusses other alterations to the penis, including dorsal or ventral slitting, as practiced in the Philippines and some Pacific cultures, and finally mentions some other cultures that enhance the foreskin by elongation or other means. Circumcision and other genital alterations are shown to have obscure origins and a variety of meanings, which change over time, and are spread by both generational succession and geographic diffusion.

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Circumcision

Merli

2024

The International Encyclopedia of Anthropology

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Genital cutting is a well‐researched bodily practice in anthropology, often associated with the formation of gender, personhood, and self in different cosmologies. Early anthropology focused on male initiation rituals, blood sacrifices, and masculinity. As more women anthropologists conducted fieldwork on reproductive health, practices that male anthropologists were previously precluded from, the attention moved progressively to female genital cutting and modifications. Diverging ethical discussions on human rights and health, as well as a range of religious, political, and medical stances, invest the two practices, which should be considered together. They are also at the center of opposite global health strategies and interventions by international health organizations, for example the World Health Organization. Recent developments highlight the issue of bodily integrity also for male children. The topic becomes politicized in relation to migration health, gendered violence, and worldviews in the new country of residence. Circumcision calls into question our ability to claim cultural relativism.

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SEXUAL DIFFERENTIATION in SOCIALIZATION and SOME MALE GENITAL MUTILATIONS¹

Abstract: ZABOROWSKI, S.

Cited by 16 publications

References 10 publications

Dorsal longitudinal foreskin cut is associated with reduced risk of HIV, syphilis and genital herpes in men: a cross‐sectional study in Papua New Guinea

Dorsal longitudinal foreskin cut is associated with reduced risk of HIV, syphilis and genital herpes in men: a cross‐sectional study in Papua New Guinea

Genital cutting, male

Circumcision

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SEXUAL DIFFERENTIATION in SOCIALIZATION and SOME MALE GENITAL MUTILATIONS1

Abstract: ZABOROWSKI, S.

Cited by 16 publications

References 10 publications

Dorsal longitudinal foreskin cut is associated with reduced risk of HIV, syphilis and genital herpes in men: a cross‐sectional study in Papua New Guinea

Dorsal longitudinal foreskin cut is associated with reduced risk of HIV, syphilis and genital herpes in men: a cross‐sectional study in Papua New Guinea

Genital cutting, male

Circumcision

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SEXUAL DIFFERENTIATION in SOCIALIZATION and SOME MALE GENITAL MUTILATIONS¹