Tackling HIV/AIDS as a contemporary social problem in Sub-Saharan Africa: a sociological critique of voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) as a preventive measure.

Background: In view of all the recorded devastation it is causing to society and human life, HIV/AIDS appears to
be in possession of all the characteristics of a contemporary social problem facing the world today, particularly Sub-Saharan
Africa. Voluntary Medical Male circumcision (VMMC) in Africa and in many other parts of the world is being heralded as the
new “fix” to HIV/AIDS pandemic – which has been termed as “prevention technology.” The aim of this paper is to critique the
widely held belief and argument that male circumcision is or can be used as a preventive measure against HIV infection in
Sub-Saharan Africa and other parts of the world. Methods: This article uses the available and abundant empirical data from
various epidemiological studies on the subject of male circumcision status and HIV prevention, and national demographic
health surveys from a few Sub-Saharan African Countries. Outcome: Empirical evidence from Africa and other parts of the
world has clearly indicated that male circumcision has never been and cannot be a preventive measure against heterosexually
HIV infection. In fact, empirical data have pointed to the contrary. The relation between male circumcision status and HIV
infection has not been in the expected direction, that- male circumcision reduces the risk of HIV infection. Conclusion: The
paper concludes that abundant empirical data on male circumcision status and HIV infection do not support the widely held
view and argument that male circumcision reduces heterosexual HIV infection.
Keywords: Contemporary Social Problems, Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC), HIV/AIDS,
Randomised Controlled Clinical Trials (RCCTS), Epidemiology, Politics, Sociolog