This piece presents the rationale behind a possible recommendation from the CDC for all U.S. boys to be circumcised. This was prompted by trials in Africa that found circumcised men had a much lower risk of contracting HIV from their female partners compare to uncircumcised men. As the story points out, this same impact may not be seen in the U.S. given that the majority of new cases here are found in men who have sex with men. While this story does an adequate job of conveying the gist of why the CDC is considering a recommendation to circumcise boys, it would have been strengthened if it had included,
In the end, we wonder if the piece didn’t confuse more than clarify for many viewers.
This story did not discuss the cost of circumcision or its coverage by insurance companies. Currently, some state Medicaid programs do not cover its cost. So this can be a significant issue.
The piece mentions that circumcision cut the risk of HIV infection by more than half in heterosexual African men, but it didn’t explain "half of what?". See our primer on absolute versus relative risks. Is the segment giving relative or absolute data? The story could have also mentioned other benefits associated with circumcision, such as reduced risk of urinary tract infections and cancer.
This story does not provide a sufficient discussion on the potential risks of circumcision, such as infection and minor bleeding. The story states: "…for adult men getting circumcised…it’s a bigger deal…adult men will tell you the recovery is tougher." What does a "bigger deal" and "tougher recovery" actually mean?
This story accurately communicated that the risk of contracting HIV in Africa is reduced in circumcised men. However, more information about the studies would have been useful. For example, the men in the studies were circumcised as adults. Dr. Snyderman states that circumcision does not reduce the spread of HIV among men who have sex with men; however, researchers do not actually know if circumcision affects the rate of HIV transmission in this population. It would be more accurate to say that there is currently no good evidence on the topic.
Studies found that circumcised men in Africa have a lower risk of contracting HIV from women compared to uncircumcised men; however, the piece makes it clear that these results may not be translated to the U.S. In Africa, HIV is primary spread by heterosexual sex, whereas, in the U.S. men who have sex with men make up the majority of newly diagnosed cases. Additionally, the overall risk of HIV is lower in the U.S. compared to Africa, a point that could have been made clearer in the story.
This story did not interview any independent sources. Including comments from both critics and proponents of the potential CDC recommendation would have been valuable. The story speculates on what the CDC will recommend and how the American Academy of Pediatrics will react, but hearing directly from the leadership of these organizations would have been more useful.
This story does not discuss additional ways to reduce the risk of contracting HIV, such as condom use and other safe sex practices.
The story makes it clear that the CDC has not yet made a formal recommendation regarding male circumcision. The segment discussed the differing trends through the years of the use of circumcision.
The story provides data indicating that circumcision is not a novel procedure in the U.S. It also makes it clear that a recommendation from the CDC on circumcision would be uNPRecedented.
There does not appear to be a press release associated with this story.
Systematic, Criteria-Driven
Monday at #ADA2021, an infectious disease epidemiologist, a journalist, and a researcher shared perspectives on communication of risk in the era of COVID-19: http://ow.ly/ROfR30rMeE7 @AstleyCM @garyschwitzer @berthahidalgo @ADA_DiabetesPro
Shoutouts to @susan_bewley @drkevinknopf @MichaelBaum11 in this call for more than fawning coverage from press releases for these kinds of stories.
Also, linked history inside goes back 5 years just on Grail apparently trying to become Holy Grail. https://twitter.com/garyschwitzer/status/1408849696416841731
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