Nudging men to register for medical circumcision using a free app - Trial PACTR202112699416418

Timeline & Enrollment

Summary

Medical male circumcision can reduce HIV infection by 60%. Aligned to the World Health Organisation strategies, in 2010 the Department of Health aimed to medically circumcise 80% of HIV negative men in South Africa. Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) coverage reported in 2017 was 32%, with higher coverage in younger men and lower coverage in men 25 years and older. Risky sexual practices, including multiple sexual partners and inconsistent condom use, are higher in the 25-years-and-older age group with HIV prevalence rates increasing with age until approximately 35-39 years old. Right to Care (RTC) works with the Department of Health to support and scale up VMMC services in multiple districts across South Africa through VMMC demand creation and direct services, including the facilitation of site appointment bookings or on-site support and coordination. Through these activities several barriers to reaching men for VMMC have been identified, including fear of pain related to the procedure, loss of income as a result of missed work, stigma around HIV testing, low perception of HIV risk, concerns around the abstinence period post VVMC, and the belief that it is not appropriate for older males.Communication campaigns channeled through social media, television, interpersonal communication, community engagement and educational material are used to create demand for VMMC. Novel, innovative, low-cost demand creation strategies that are easily accessible to the public are needed to increase the reach of VMMC services by addressing behavioural barriers related to the procedure. Moya, a data free mobile phone application which is widely available in South Africa, is being used by RTC to host a form that can be used by men to register for a medical circumcision. Objective: Using behavioural insights to modify the the existing Moya VMMC registration form to increase the number of men that complete the registration process and book a VMMC at RTC facilities.

ICD-10 Classifications