TY - JOUR T1 - Long-Term Investment for Infants: Keys to a Successful Early Infant Male Circumcision Program for HIV Prevention and Overall Child Health JF - Global Health: Science and Practice JO - GLOB HEALTH SCI PRACT SP - S3 LP - S8 DO - 10.9745/GHSP-D-15-00229 VL - 4 IS - Supplement 1 AU - Tin Tin Sint AU - Lauren Bellhouse AU - Chewe Luo Y1 - 2016/07/01 UR - http://www.ghspjournal.org/content/4/Supplement_1/S3.abstract N2 - Countries where adult male circumcision has reached high coverage should consider national early infant male circumcision (EIMC) programs where EIMC is feasible and culturally acceptable. Ministries of health that intend to set up a routine offer of EIMC should put systems in place to ensure that its introduction (1) does not compromise adult male circumcision programs, (2) does not weaken routine service delivery platforms, (3) is done safely, and (4) adheres to the rights of the child.Male circumcision involves the complete removal of the foreskin of the penis, the innermost layer of which is highly susceptible to HIV transmission.1 According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2006 about 30% of males globally (665 million infants, adolescents, and adults) had been circumcised.2 Male circumcision has historically been performed in infancy, adolescence, and adulthood in various regions of Africa for religious and cultural reasons or for ethnic identity.2 Circumcision is mainly performed using traditional methods, either at birth or to initiate males into adulthood at puberty. Male circumcision also has medical benefits, including the prevention of penile cancer, reduction in the transmission of some sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, and reduction in vaginal infections and cancer of the cervix in female sex partners.3,4Scientific evidence and program data show that male circumcision prevents female-to-male sexual transmission of HIV.5 Three randomized controlled trials conducted by trained health professionals in properly equipped settings concluded that adult male circumcision reduces transmission of HIV from women to circumcised men by up to 60%.5-9 Based on these results, WHO and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) recommended in 2007 that voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) be made available in countries with a high HIV prevalence, generalized heterosexual HIV epidemics, and low levels … ER -