TABLE. Summary of 27 Promising-Practice Interventions for VMMC
Country and Name/Description of InterventionTypes of InterventionsImplementing PartnerBrief Description
KENYA
Demand creation toolkitResearch, messaging, social mobilization, IPCImpact Research and Development Organization (IRDO)Tool to assist social mobilizers to communicate consistent messages during IPC
Journalism trainingMediaInternewsTraining journalists to report accurately and impartially on VMMC
MCC coordinationCoordinationNational AIDS & STI Control Programme (NASCOP)National and provincial coordination
MALAWI
BRIDGE II projectSocial mobilization, IPC, engaging traditional leaders and female partners, coordination, messaging incentivesJohns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (CCP)Combining low- and high-intensity efforts at behavior change, balancing supply and demand, and reaching female partners
Lilongwe district scale-upSocial mobilization, media, IPC, engaging traditional leaders and female partners, coordinationInternational Training & Education Center for Health (I-TECH)Using satisfied VMMC clients as community mobilizers and training women to reach other women
SOUTH AFRICA
Brothers for LifeSocial mobilization, IPC, media, ICT, messagingJohns Hopkins Health and Education in South Africa (JHHESA)Award-winning multipronged and adaptable marketing and awareness campaign involving print media, TV, billboards, community outreach projects, canvassing, education, and information
CareWorksSocial mobilization, IPC, ICT, incentives paymentCareWorksWorkplace programs and a call center to move potential clients from contemplation to action
Centre for HIV and AIDS Prevention Studies (CHAPS)Social mobilization, IPC, research, incentives and performance-based paymentCHAPSRecord numbers of VMMCs performed, perpetual research, reflection and revision of strategy, tight feedback loop with mobilizers, collective incentive structure translated into highly motivated staff
New StartSocial mobilization, engaging traditional leaders, messaging, research, mediaSociety for Family Health (SFH)Use of the DELTA process to design demand creation interventions and pretesting of all materials
Soul CityResearch, messaging, mediaSoul CityInsertion of VMMC storylines into long-running TV series
TANZANIA
Champion projectSocial mobilization, IPC, engaging female partners, mediaEngenderHealthBeyond HIV messaging, engendering long-term commitment of social mobilizers
Community mobilization and GIS technologySocial mobilization, IPC, media, engaging female partners, research, advocacy, IPCJhpiegoCommunity mobilization for older men, use of SMS and GIS technology
Community mobilization and SMS technologySocial mobilization, IPC, ICTIntraHealth and Tanzania Youth Alliance (TAYOA)Innovative approach combining SMS technology with popular-opinion leaders at grassroots level to create tailored strategy for reaching older men, adaptation of IEC materials to suit local communities
Printed materials and radio spotsMedia and messagingCCPPrinted materials and radio spots
UGANDA
AMAKA (Adult Male Medical Circumcision in Kampala)Social mobilization, researchInfectious Diseases InstituteUse of existing community resources and structures for demand creation
Be the Pride of Your Tribe campaignSocial mobilization, advocacy, researchSTAR-EVMMC campaign in traditionally circumcising communities
Makerere University Walter Reed ProjectSocial mobilization, advocacy, media, IPC, researchUS Military HIV Research ProgrammeUse of cross-country learning to create VMMC demand and meet VMMC need
Stand Proud, Get Circumcised campaignResearch, messaging, social mobilizationHealth Communication Partnership (HCP)Use of research to inform communication strategy development and implementation, national tools with standardized branding and information to ensure consistency and recognition of VMMC but which can also be tailored to specific communities and contexts
Stylish Man campaignResearch, media, messaging, IPCRakai Health Sciences ProgramDemedicalizing demand creation for VMMC
ZAMBIA
Community mobilizationSocial mobilization, IPC, media, engaging female partnersMarie Stopes InternationalCommunity mobilization, health counselor training, and local media
Community mobilization and campaignsSocial mobilization, research, ICTSociety for Family HealthCommunity mobilization through existing volunteer structures, mobile clinical outreach, client voucher/feedback system to disaggregate effective elements of demand creation, and toll-free family planning help lines incorporate VMMC
Mini campaigns and trainingSocial mobilization. IPC, media, advocacyJhpiegoClose linking of demand creation activities with supply, including mini campaigns to marry the two and emphasis on a positive client experience
National MC Month and technical working groupMass media communication, advocacy, engaging tribal leaders, community mobilization, IPCNational technical working groupNational and district-level coordination, advocacy by traditional leaders and public officials, thrice yearly MC drives and engagement with health workers
Safe Love campaignResearch, media, messaging, IPC, ICT, community mobilizationCommunications Support for HealthInnovative multiplatform, multi-format content, use of SMS to move from contemplation to action
U Report SMS pilotICT, advocacy, community mobilization, IPCUnited Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)SMS pilot for VMMC demand creation among adolescents and young adults
ZIMBABWE
Identifying optimal messagingResearch, messagingBattelle Health and AnalyticsQualitative and quantitative research to establish optimal messages to promote demand for VMMC
SMART campaignMessaging, media, social mobilization, IPCPopulation Services International (PSI)Research-led message development for “SMART” campaign, management of social mobilization
  • Abbreviations: GIS, geographic information system; ICT, information and communications technology; IEC, information, education, and communication; IPC, interpersonal communication; MC, male circumcision; SMS, short message service (text message); VMMC, voluntary medical male circumcision.