Background: Novel HIV prevention approaches are urgently needed in Botswana and elsewhere in sub- Saharan Africa. Although adult male circumcision has been shown reduced the acquisition of HIV by more than 50%, circumcision in infancy is optimal for its relative ease, cost and low rate of complications. We have conducted focus groups and semi-structured interviews that suggest infant male circumcision would be an acceptable public HIV prevention strategy in Botswana. The government of Botswana is committed to scaling up male circumcision services in the near future. Understanding decision-making around infant male circumcision will be essential to maximize the effectiveness of this HIV prevention strategy.
Specific Aims : We propose to: 1) determine the acceptability and actual uptake of infant male circumcision in southeastern Botswana and identify barriers to uptake;2) ascertain the feasibility and safety of infant male circumcision in Botswana;3) Estimate what, if any, advantages would exist for scale up of Mogen Clamp versus Plastibell with regard to human resources, equipment needs, adverse events and acceptability to parents and providers in Botswana. Study Design and Schema: We will conduct structured interviews with early postpartum women to determine correlates of infant male circumcision acceptability and uptake, defined by infant male circumcision following informed consent. Male infants will be circumcised by a trained doctor in a hospital / clinic setting by one of two commonly used procedures: either Mogen clamp or Plastibell circumcision to occur between 1 day and 2 weeks of age (maximum 4 weeks). Infants will be followed by the study team for up to 4 months post- procedure to evaluate outcomes. We will also administer questionnaires to the parents at the regular 6-week pediatric visit and at the regularly scheduled 4-month vaccination visit to assess impressions of / satisfaction with the infant procedure outcome over time. Sample size will be 150 infants per arm for a total of 300 infants males circumcised (and an estimated 700 parental questionnaires)..

Public Health Relevance

The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNAIDS state that countries with severe, generalized HIV epidemics but low rates of male circumcision should offer this surgery as an important, evidence-based HIV prevention intervention, including among neonates. These two agencies also recommended that additional research on the most feasible, safe, and sustainable ways of scaling up male circumcision intervention should be performed. This study will be in keeping with these recommendations.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)
Project #
5K23AI084579-03
Application #
8100183
Study Section
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Research Review Committee (AIDS)
Program Officer
Bacon, Melanie C
Project Start
2009-09-15
Project End
2013-07-31
Budget Start
2011-08-01
Budget End
2012-07-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$136,957
Indirect Cost
Name
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Department
Type
DUNS #
030811269
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
Plank, Rebeca M; Wirth, Kathleen E; Ndubuka, Nnamdi O et al. (2014) Single-arm evaluation of the AccuCirc device for early infant male circumcision in Botswana. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 66:1-6
Plank, Rebeca M; Ndubuka, Nnamdi O; Wirth, Kathleen E et al. (2013) A randomized trial of Mogen clamp versus Plastibell for neonatal male circumcision in Botswana. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 62:e131-7
Plank, Rebeca M; Steinmetz, Tara; Sokal, David C et al. (2013) Vitamin K deficiency bleeding and early infant male circumcision in Africa. Obstet Gynecol 122:503-5
Plank, Rebeca M; Kubiak, David W; Abdullahi, Rasak Bamidele et al. (2013) Loss of anatomical landmarks with eutectic mixture of local anesthetic cream for neonatal male circumcision. J Pediatr Urol 9:e86-90
Plank, Rebeca M (2013) Author's reply: A randomized trial of Mogen clamp versus Plastibell for neonatal male circumcision in Botswana. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 64:e13-4
Jayeoba, Oluwemimo; Dryden-Peterson, Scott; Okui, Lillian et al. (2012) Acceptability of male circumcision among adolescent boys and their parents, Botswana. AIDS Behav 16:340-9
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Plank, Rebeca M; Makhema, Joseph; Kebaabetswe, Poloko et al. (2010) Acceptability of infant male circumcision as part of HIV prevention and male reproductive health efforts in Gaborone, Botswana, and surrounding areas. AIDS Behav 14:1198-202