Only 2% of the total estimated number of people living with HIV reside in the Middle East and north Africa (MENA) region. Fewer HIV transmissions in the MENA region compared with other regions had been attributed to several protective factors, including male circumcision and Islamic cultural traditions. However, relying only on the protective effect of religious and traditional values is not enough to prevent the progression of the HIV epidemic.

Doaa Oraby, “Women Living with HIV in the Middle East and North Africa,” The Lancet 3, no.2 (February 2018), doi:10.1016/S2468-2667(18)30007-0

URL: www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(18)30007-0/fulltext