Overview of MC Research in Kenya
Country Update Meeting on MC Scale Up
Eastern and Southern Africa Region, Arusha
Dr Mores Loolpapit BSc, MB ChB, MPH
10 June 2010
Introduction
• Building on RCT undertaken by UNIM Project, expanded site into a Research and Training Centre (the URTC)
• Currently undertaking 17 studies in 10 of the 13 WHO theme areas
• Most undertaken through the Male Circumcision Consortium (MCC) with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• Studies to inform MC Scale-Up in Kenya and beyond
Initial Research Agenda - MCC
• Assessing behaviour, attitudes, beliefs, and acceptability of MC in Nyanza
• Evaluating the impact of MC on sexual risk behaviour and rates of HIV
• Assessing safety of MC services to help identify ways to improve and expand male circumcision services
• Assessing the potential for private sector providers, clinical officers, and nurses to provide safe, high-quality male circumcision services
• Determining the viability of using outreach services to enhance access to safe male circumcision
Additional Research Activities
• Evaluation of Safe Voluntary Infant Male Circumcision (The Mtoto Msafi Project)
•Text Messaging to Improve Follow-up and Abstinence (UoW, Fogarty)
•The Shang Ring Study (EH, Cornell, BMGF)
•Cohort Post-RCT Study evaluating HIV & STI incidence amongst circ and uncirc men (UIC, & DAIDS, NIH)
•Post-Surgical Wound Healing Study
•Communicating Partial Protection of MC
•MOVE Concept Evaluation (WHO/USAID)
Current Status
• Data collection completed, reports finalized/ almost complete: private sector, MCMES, HRD studies
• Client recruitment completed, follow-up on-going: SHABS, Outreach and Non-Physician Clinician Studies
• On-ongoing Studies: CIRCIS, CPP, Mtoto Msafi
• Protocol development/ awaiting IRB approval: Text Messaging, Wound Healing, MOVE Concept, Active Surveillance of AE (CDC)
Next Steps
• Convene meeting for Researchers, Policy Makers, Programme Managers and Implementers to review findings and implications for Policy and Practice: October 2010
• Distill findings and make recommendations for policy and practice
• Share findings through appropriate forums: stakeholder forums, media, conferences, meetings
• Identify additional priority research issues to be addressed based on emerging challenges in-country and in the region.
Acknowledgments
• Ministries of Health in Kenya
• MC Partners: FHI, EngenderHealth, University of Illinois at Chicago, Nyanza Reproductive Health Society, CDC Kenya and Cornell University
• National & Nyanza Provincial Male Circumcision Taskforce
• Our donors: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and others
• Communities in Nyanza
Asanteni Sana!