Effectiveness of an intervention to increase uptake of voluntary medical male circumcision among men with sexually transmitted infections in Malawi: a preinterventional and postinterventional study

Abstract

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect a multistrategy demand-creation and linkage intervention on voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) uptake, time to VMMC and predictors of VMMC uptake among men with sexually transmitted infections (STIs).DesignPragmatic preinterventional and postinterventional quasi-experimental study combined with a prospective observational design.SettingA public and specialised STI clinic in Lilongwe, Malawi.PopulationUncircumcised men who presented to the STI clinic.Methods and interventionThe intervention consisted of transport reimbursement (‘R’), intensified health education (‘I’) and short-messaging services/telephonic tracing (‘Te’), abbreviated (RITe). A preintervention phase was conducted at baseline while RITe was rolled-out in the intervention phase in a sequential manner called implementation blocks: ‘I’ only—block 1; ‘I+Te’—block 2 and RITe—block 3.Main outcome measuresPrimary: VMMC uptake and time to VMMC for the full intervention and for each block. Secondary: predictors of VMMC uptake.ResultsA total of 2230 uncircumcised men presented to the STI clinic. The mean age was 29 years (SD±9), 58% were married/cohabiting, HIV prevalence was 6.4% and 43% had urethral discharge. Compared with standard of care (8/514, 1.6%), uptake increased by 100% during the intervention period (55/1716, 3.2%) (p=0.048). ‘I’ (25/731, 113%, p=0.044) and RITe (17/477, 125%, p=0.044) significantly increased VMMC uptake. The median time to VMMC was shorter during the intervention period (6 days, IQR: 0, 13) compared with standard of care (15 days, IQR: 9, 18). There was no significant incremental effect on VMMC uptake and time to VMMC between blocks. Men with genital warts were 18 times more likely to receive VMMC (adjusted relative risk=18.74, 95% CI: 2.041 to 172.453).ConclusionsOur intervention addressing barriers to VMMC improved VMMC uptake and time to VMMC among uncircumcised men with STIs, an important subpopulation for VMMC prioritisation.Trial registration numberNCT04677374.