Strategies for Scaling up HIV prevention among Adolescents: TASO Masaka Safe Male Circumcision Experience

Abstract

Issue: Uganda has HIV prevelance of 7.3%; however HIV prevalence in Masaka is at 10%. TASO Masaka has 383 active adolescents in care. Men’s uptake of Safe Male Circumcision is at 34% in the central area of Uganda including Masaka. Safe male circumcision (SMC) is one intervention for HIV prevention that targets male adolescents directly. SMC was conducted at the facility with one mobilizer doing mobilization. There was also limited community leadership involvement in the program. To improve adolescents’ uptake of SMC services, TASO Masaka came up with strategies like training community linkage facilitators to mobilize adolescents for SMC, targeting schools, conducting dialogue meetings and setting up circumcision camps. Description: 6 dialogue meetings were conducted in 6 districts to allow community participation. 2 linkage facilitators were trained in SMC and community mobilization. Targeting schools for sensitization and encouraging adolescents seek consent from their parents. Offering free transport to facility and camping sites, Provided IEC through videos, flipcharts, fliers complemented by health talks and one to one counseling. Circumcised Peers were encouraged to do mobilization of their fellow peers. HCT and safe male circumcision services are provided to all eligible clients. Follow ups are done after 48 h, 7 days and 6 weeks. SMC telephone hotline was established for follow ups. Lessons learnt: Dialogue meetings help program implementers to work in a coordinated manner with meaningful involvement of community leadership. A total of 20786 adolescents received HCT and circumcision (6/1/2014 to 17/12/2015 contributing to 85% of the total men circumcised. Peer to peer mobilization has worked more with adolescents as compared to men. A school approach (221 schools) targeted many adolescents for mobilization and follow up services, 16628) adolescents were followed up in the review period. SMC camps bring services nearer to the community a, total of 1883 adolescents were circumcised in camps. 20786 Adolescents have tested for HIV, 100 treated sexually transmitted infections and receive risk reduction messages. The SMC hotline improved follow-ups, linkages and mobilization. Interventions that target a particular group for HIV prevention need a multidisciplinary approach.