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The quality of voluntary medical male circumcision done by mid-level workers in Tshwane District, South Africa: A retrospective analysis

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  • Sanele Ngcobo
  • Jacqueline Elizabeth Wolvaardt
  • Martin Bac
  • Elize Webb

Abstract

Background: Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) reduces the acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in heterosexual men by up to 60%. One HIV infection is averted for every 5 to 15 VMMCs. To conduct VMMCs in large populations, large numbers of trained healthcare professionals are needed. Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have a high burden of HIV and a shortage of healthcare professionals, creating a healthcare conundrum. To bridge this gap, South Africa launched a new cadre of mid-level medical worker called Clinical Associates (CA). We assessed the ability of CAs to perform circumcisions of adequate quality and their subsequent usefulness to meet the demands of VMMCs in a population with a high HIV burden. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis, reviewing patient files (n = 4850) of surgical VMMCs conducted over a 16-month period. Patient files were sourced from clinics and hospitals that provided free VMMCs in Tshwane district in South Africa. Findings: Clinical associates performed 88.66% of the circumcisions and doctors performed the remaining 11.34% (p

Suggested Citation

  • Sanele Ngcobo & Jacqueline Elizabeth Wolvaardt & Martin Bac & Elize Webb, 2018. "The quality of voluntary medical male circumcision done by mid-level workers in Tshwane District, South Africa: A retrospective analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(1), pages 1-7, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0190795
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190795
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