Latest Articles
- Safety, Acceptability, and Feasibility of Early Infant Male Circumcision Conducted by Nurse-Midwives Using the AccuCirc Device: Results of a Field Study in Zimbabwe
Early infant male circumcision (EIMC) conducted by nurse-midwives using the AccuCirc device proved safe, feasible, and acceptable to parents in Zimbabwe. The AccuCirc device has the potential to facilitate widespread scale-up of safe EIMC in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Scaling Up Early Infant Male Circumcision: Lessons From the Kingdom of Swaziland
Swaziland is the first country to introduce national early infant male circumcision (EIMC) into voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) programming for HIV prevention. With more than 5,000 EIMCs performed between 2010 and 2014, Swaziland learned that EIMC requires inclusion of stakeholders within and outside of HIV prevention bodies; robust support at the facility, regional, and national levels; and informed demand. Expansion of EIMC and VMMC has the potential to avert more than 56,000 HIV infections in Swaziland over the next 20 years.
- Early Infant Male Circumcision in Cameroon and Senegal: Demand, Service Provision, and Cultural Context
Despite the absence of national policies and strategies, early infant male circumcision is routinely offered at all levels of the health care system in Cameroon and Senegal, mainly because of community demand. Improving medical male circumcision will require service guidelines, preservice training, investigation of surgical and nonsurgical devices, supply chains, data collection tools, engaged communities to raise awareness, and communication strategies for men.
- Comparative Cost of Early Infant Male Circumcision by Nurse-Midwives and Doctors in Zimbabwe
Early infant male circumcision (EIMC) conducted by nurse-midwives using the AccuCirc device was safe and less costly per procedure than when conducted by doctors: for nurse-midwives, US$38.87 in vertical programs and US$33.72 in integrated programs; for doctors, US$49.77 in vertical programs.
- Sustaining Gains Made in Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision
Introducing early infant male circumcision (EIMC) can sustain voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) programs. This Global Health: Science and Practice supplement presents lessons learned, research findings on demand creation, and cost comparisons of various models of EIMC introduction.
- Feasibility and Effectiveness of mHealth for Mobilizing Households for Indoor Residual Spraying to Prevent Malaria: A Case Study in Mali
Sending voice and/or text messages to mobilize households for spraying was more costly per structure and less effective at preparing structures than traditional door-to-door mobilization approaches supplemented with radio and town hall announcements. Challenges included:
Lack of familiarity with mobile phones and with public health mobile messaging
Lack of face-to-face communication with mobilizers, making it easier to ignore mobilization messages and preventing trust-building
Low literacy levels
Gender differentials in access to mobile phones
- Fertility Awareness Methods Are Not Modern Contraceptives: Defining Contraception to Reflect Our Priorities
A recent article in GHSP calls for classifying fertility awareness methods as “modern contraceptives” despite their inferiority. We believe in a rights-based approach, which considers the real-world conditions that many women face, including constrained sexual agency and low baseline reproductive health literacy. We must demonstrate true commitment to increasing access to the most effective and reliable contraceptive methods.
- Response to Austad: Offering a Range of Methods, Including Fertility Awareness Methods, Facilitates Method Choice
When selecting a contraceptive method, women and men consider various attributes in addition to effectiveness, such as side effects, return to fertility, level of medical intervention, and interference with sexual activity. Offering a range of methods, including fertility awareness methods that meet the standard to be considered modern, helps to address these considerations, facilitating method choice.