Circumcision age for boys stirs confusion

JOHANNESBURG, 20 August 2010 (Sowetan) - Scientists and medical practitioners have indicated it would be in the child's best interest to be circumcised at an early age. However, there have been issues raised with regard to the Children's Act.

THE inclusion of male circumcision in the comprehensive HIV prevention package early this year was hailed as a step in the right direction in the fight against HIV-AIDS in South Africa.

But there is confusion as to what age boys should be circumcised.

Section 12(8) of the Act stipulates that circumcision of male children under the age of 16 is prohibited, except when it is performed for religious purposes in accordance with the practices of the religion concerned or for medical reasons on the recommendation of a medical practitioner.

Brian Honermann, researcher at NGO Section 27, said: "The confusion is based on a poor reading of the Act. At present, there is no legal limitation beyond standard informed-consent requirements that prohibits the provision of elective neo-natal medical male circumcision.

"The Children's Act expressly allows for circumcision of males under the age of 16 when they are conducted for medical reasons on the recommendation of a medical practitioner," he said.

Studies conducted in 2005 in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries showed that male circumcision can provide 58 percent protection against acquiring HIV infection. After the findings were released most countries adopted the procedure as part of their HIV-prevention package.

"Given the ample scientific evidence that medical male circumcision substantially reduces the risk of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases and that neonatal medical male circumcision carries a lower risk of complications than child or adult medical male circumcision, a medical practitioner is well within the law to recommend elective neo-natal male circumcision to parents of newborn boys," Honermann said.

Source: sowetan