CNSNews reports that  The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is planning to spend $24.5 million to circumcise an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 male infants and males aged 10 to 49 in the kingdom of Swaziland by 2018, to raise the prevalence of circumcision from 19% (in 2010) to 70% (in 2018) and the prevalence of infant circumcision to 50% in 2018.

A demographic survey for 2006-2007 in Swaziland showed that the prevalence of HIV among circumcised males was 22% vs. 20% for those uncircumcised (see table 14.10, page 235)

Swaziland has the highest rate of HIV (26.5% estimated in 2012).

The United States has already invested over 15.5 million dollars in circumcision programs in Swaziland through the President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief, PEPFAR in an ambitious and unsuccessful “accelerated saturation initiative” called Soka Uncobe (circumcise and conquer), a campaign that some say, could be interpreted to say that circumcised men no longer need to use condoms.

PEPFAR has particularly targeted infants (as opposed to voluntary adults) by encouraging hospitals to circumcise all male newborns unless the parents opt out.

The country is culturally polygamous. Multiple concurrent sexual partners are common.

Related:

15 May 2013, Circumcision plans go awry in Swaziland

July 2012, Why a U.S. circumcision push failed in Swaziland