Circumcision Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in London, United Kingdom: An Unlikely Strategy for HIV Prevention

• Published in: Sexually transmitted diseases 2011-10, Vol.38 (10), p.928-931
• Main Authors: Thornton, Alicia C., Lattimore, Samuel, Delpech, Valerie, Weiss, Helen A., Elford, Jonathan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Circumcision; Circumcision, Male - psychology; Circumcision, Male - statistics & numerical data; Confidence intervals; Disease prevention; Feasibility Studies; Gays & lesbians; General aspects; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; HIV; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV Infections - prevention & control; HIV Infections - virology; Homosexuality, Male - statistics & numerical data; Homosexuals; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human infectious diseases. Experimental studies and models; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; London - epidemiology; Male; Medical sciences; Men; Middle Aged; Odds Ratio; Original Study; Prevalence; Prevention; Prevention and actions; Preventive programmes; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Risk-Taking; Sexual Behavior; Sexually transmitted diseases; STD; Surveys and Questionnaires; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0148-5717; 1537-4521
• DOI: 10.1097/OLQ.0b013e318221562a

Objectives: To explore attitudes toward circumcision among men who have sex with men (MSM) in London and the feasibility of conducting research into circumcision and HIV prevention in this population. Methods: A convenience sample of MSM visiting central London gyms completed a confidential, self-administered questionnaire between May and June 2008. Information was collected on participants' demographic characteristics, self-reported HIV status, sexual behavior, circumcision status, attitudes toward circumcision, and willingness to participate in research on circumcision and HIV prevention. Results: Of 653 MSM, 29.0% reported that they were circumcised. Overall, HIV prevalence was 23.3%; this did not differ significantly between circumcised and uncircumcised men (18.6% vs. 25.2%, respectively; adjusted odds ratio 0.79, 95% confidence interval: 0.501.26). A similar proportion of circumcised and uncircumcised men reported unprotected anal intercourse in the previous 3 months (38.8% vs. 36.7%, adjusted odds ratio 1.06, 95% confidence interval: 0.721.55). Uncircumcised men were less likely to think that there were benefits of circumcision than circumcised men (31.2% vs. 65.4, P < 0.001). Only 10.3% of uncircumcised men said that they would be willing to participate in research on circumcision as an HIV prevention strategy. Conclusions: Most uncircumcised MSM in this London survey were unwilling to participate in research on circumcision and HIV prevention. Only a minority of uncircumcised men thought that there were benefits of circumcision. It is unlikely that circumcision would be a feasible strategy for HIV prevention among MSM in London.