ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF MALE CIRCUMCISION ON THE TRANSMISSION DYNAMICS OF HIV/AIDS AMONG FEMALES IN A HETEROSEXUAL POPULATION

Over three decades after its discovery HIV infection continues to cause untold suffering, especially among the poor. Intervention strategies against HIV infection have ranged from medical to behavioral including male circumcision. However, controversy still surrounds the HIV protective factor male circumcision has in heterosexual females. In this study a deterministic model was developed to assess the impact male circumcision has on HIV transmission dynamics in heterosexual females. The reproduction number as well as the equilibria for model are determined and analysed. Results from the analysis of the reproduction number showed mixed results and are therefore inconclusive. However, numerical simulations went a step further to show that in the long term male circumcision protects females against HIV infection. Thus, male protection translates to female protection.