Uganda Safe Male Circumcision Communication

Transcription

1 Published on K4Health ( Home > Uganda Safe Male Circumcision Communication Uganda Safe Male Circumcision Communication In 2007, results from three large randomized clinical trials in Kenya, Uganda and South Africa were published, showing that medically performed circumcision is safe and can reduce men?s risk of HIV infection by 60%. Based on this evidence, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNAIDS recommend medical male circumcision as an essential part of HIV prevention programming. Between 2007 and 2010, a national task force in Uganda, with assistance from Health Communication Partnership, conducted a public sensitization campaign that focused on educating health workers, leaders, and the media about male circumcision and its relation to HIV prevention. In 2010, the Uganda Ministry of Health adopted the National Safe Male Circumcision Policy, which recommends voluntary safe male circumcision for all men, and makes it available through the public health system. To educate the public and promote the uptake of SMC services among men 15 years and older, the Ministry of Health, with assistance from Health Communication Partnership, designed and executed a national SMC demand creation campaign entitled?stand Proud, Get Circumcised?. While the majority of men in Uganda are not circumcised?according to the 2011 UDHS, only 24% of men are circumcised?there are cultural groups that practice traditional circumcision. In Eastern Uganda, the Bugisu conduct traditional male circumcision as an initiation rite every two years. Traditional circumcision ceremonies involve many practices that increase the circumcision candidate?s risk of acquiring HIV, including the practice of circumcision by untrained circumcisers in unhygienic settings. So, the Ministry of Health, with assistance from HCP and the STAR-E Project, worked with a group of concerned citizens in the Bugisu region to develop a HIV prevention campaign entitled?we are the Pride of our Tribe?

2 . This etoolkit contains a comprehensive package for partners working on safe male circumcision in Uganda with strategies, curricula and materials that have been developed by experts in the field, endorsed by the Ministry of Health and are ready to be rolled out as widely as possible. These campaigns were coordinated by the Ministry of Health with technical and financial support from the Health Communication Partnership, a project managed by Johns Hopkins University's Center for Communication Programs and funded by the United States Agency for International Development. What are K4Health Toolkits? K4Health Toolkits are electronic collections of carefully selected information resources on a particular topic for health policy makers, program managers, and service providers. They are based on a continuous publishing principle that allows them to evolve after publication to capture additional resources and to identify and fill remaining information gaps. What is the purpose of this toolkit? This toolkit provides a comprehensive package on safe male circumcision in Uganda from the "Stand Proud, Get Circumcised" and the "Be the Pride of your Tribe" campaigns. Endorsed by the Uganda Ministry of Health, it aims to be rolled out as widely as possible for other male circumcision programs. Who developed this toolkit? This toolkit was developed by the Health Communication Partnership, a project managed by Johns Hopkins University's Center for Communication Programs. The campaigns were coordinated by the Uganda Ministry of Health. What types of resources are included? This toolkit includes strategy and curricula materials that have been developed by experts in the field of safe male circumcision. Policies/Guidelines

3 Uganda SMC Technical Guidelines This document streamlines the provision of safe male circumcision at different levels by service providers. It also gives gives steps involved in safe male circumcision for HIV prevention and the equipment required at any facility that intends to or provides SMC services. National Safe Male Circumscion Policy In September, 2010, the Uganda Ministry of Health adopted a National Policy on Safe Male Circumcision. The document accepts male circumcision as part of the basic health care services provided by the Ministry of Health, and allows for task shifting so that clinical officers and midwives can be trained to provide safe male circumcision. This document paved the way for the scale up of SMC services throughout Uganda. Communication Strategy National Safe Male Circumcision Communication Strategy This document describes priority audiences, objectives, messages and recommended channels for communicating about safe male circumcision. It is used for effective communication to educate communities and health workers on various aspects of SMC, create demand for SMC, improve compliance with the healing period after SMC, change society?s negative perspectives towards male circumcision and enable anti-hiv/aids campaigners to advocate for resource allocation for SMC. Final Report Male Circumsicsion Formative Assessment

4 The formative assessment of SMC in Uganda formed the basis for the development of the Communication Strategy. Stand Proud, Get Circumcised Campaign In December, 2011, the Ministry of Health launched the?stand Proud, Get Circumcised? demand creation campaign. The campaign strategy is designed to convince men who already intend to circumcise to get safe male circumcision services, while encouraging women to support their men to get circumcised and for both men and their partners to adhere to post-circumci sion practices that promote healing. The campaign uses a unique and provocative approach to convince men to act. It speaks to men through women. According to qualitative and quantitative research conducted by HCP in 2009 and 2010, 41% of uncircumcised men said they intend to circumcise. The reason given by most men was that they want to reduce their risk of HIV. The main reason these men gave for not getting circumcised was that they did not know where to get the procedure or they were worried that the procedure would be painful. The majority of women who were interviewed wanted their men to be circumcised, and their main reasons were that they thought circumcised men were cleaner, and they wanted to reduce the chances that their men would bring HIV into their relationships. The?Stand Proud, Get Circumcised? campaign builds on these findings. This section of the toolkit provides access to mass media materials and community mobilisation tools.

5 Scale Up Communication Plan This document describes how the current Uganda National Safe Male Circumcision Communication Strategy can be operationalized and implemented. It points out that the successful implementation of this plan will require the continued collaboration, support, and investment of all partners involved in the safe male circumcision programme in Uganda. National Safe Male Circumcision Communication Strategy This document describes priority audiences, objectives, messages and recommended channels for communicating about safe male circumcision. It is used for effective communication to educate communities and health workers on various aspects of SMC, create demand for SMC, improve compliance with the healing period after SMC, change society?s negative perspectives towards male circumcision and enable anti-hiv/aids campaigners to advocate for resource allocation for SMC. Mass Media Brochures, poster and billboards as well as radio and television programming promote SMC as a way men can reduce their risk of getting HIV. It also reassures men that the procedure is not painful, and directs men to locations where services are available. The MOH and partners have posted the SMC logo outside health facilities that offer SMC services, and campaign materials direct men and women to those services and to a national toll free health hotline for more information. The campaign also includes educational materials for use by service providers when educating and counseling clients about SMC. Outdoor Materials

6 Billboards The billboards provide a starting point for women to initiate discussions with their partners about SMC. Tailored to the specific language in the region and few of the main locations where SMC services are offered is also indicated on them. Location is in places where MC is considered alien (English, Luganda, Luo, Rukiga/Runyankole, Swahili). Urban Poster This poster promotes the advantage of Safe Male Circumcision in regards to HIV prevention in urban areas. Rural Poster This poster promotes the advantage of Safe Male Circumcision in regards to HIV prevention in rural areas. Disruptive Poster This poster unlike the other posters is meant to stimulate discussion among men in regards to the benefits of Safe Male Circumcision and is normally placed in urinals. Electronic Materials The Hostel TV Series and Discussion Guide SMC Hostel Drama Discussion Guide

7 This discussion guide accompanies the video to help facilitate discussion among young adults about SMC. Young people need to become more aware of the facts and realities of SMC. This will an able them to gain the necessary knowledge and confidence to take action and get circumcised and /or help a friend to go through with it. Hostel TV Series Radio Spots Radio Spots Jingle Safe Male Circumcision Song Website Banner Provides awareness on SMC to website users, rotating key messages with contact information to find out more information about SMC.

8 Banners Provides hint and awareness on SMC to website users, rotating key messages and contact information call or text to find more information about SMC. Newspaper Inserts and Ads Newspaper Inserts and Advertisements Community Mobilisation Tools SMC Community Mobilization Training Manual This material provide participants with the necessary information, tools, and skills to effectively mobilize community members to seek Safe Male Circumcision (SMC) services. Fact Sheets a) Political Leaders - This provides simple facts for political leaders on SMC and how it relates to the well-being of the communities they serve. b) Religious Leaders - This provides simple facts for religious leaders on SMC and how it relates to the well-being of the communities they serve.

9 Political Leaders Fact Sheet This material contains simple facts for political leaders on Safe Male Circumcision and the benefits it has on the communities they serve. Religious Leaders Fact Sheet This material contains simple facts for religious leaders on SMC and how it relates to the wellbeing of the communities they serve. Grain Sack This grain sack contains graphical information on SMC targeted for quickening community mobilization sessions about SMC. Targets communities where literacy levels are low, it is applicable for gatherings, such as markets, class rooms, groups and can be used by lower level health workers, counselors, teachers, peer educators and village health teams. The Grain Sack Discussion Guide Media Training Manual Prepared to equip key media house representatives, including presenters, editors, and station managers, with knowledge on the meaning and importance of Safe Male Circumcision (SMC)

10 SMC Grain Sack This material contains graphical information on SMC targeted for quickening community mobilization sessions about SMC. It targets communities where literacy levels are low and is applicable for gatherings, such as markets, class rooms, groups and can be used by lower level health workers, counselors, peer educators and village health teams. SMC Client Education List of facilities or SMC service points This document provides the list of most of the facilities that offer SMC in Uganda by region and district. Flipchart FAQ Booklet for Health Workers

11 Brochures a) Pre SMC brochure - This material contains basic information about SMC and HIV prevention. It helps them understand the role of SMC in HIV prevention b) Post SMC brochure -This contains basic after SMC and HIV prevention information and includes vital information about the healing process and what to expect after circumcision. Understanding Safe Male Circumcision This material contains basic information about SMC and HIV prevention. It helps them understand the role of SMC in HIV prevention. The brochures are available in Ateso, Luo and English. Post Safe Male Circumcision Brochure This material contains basic information about the healing process and what is expected after circumcision. It mainly targets the men that have undergone the SMC procedure. Be the Pride of your Tribe Campaign While the majority of men in Uganda are not circumcised?according to the 2011 UDHS, only 24% of men are circumcised?there are cultural groups that practice traditional circumcision. In Eastern Uganda, the Bugisu conduct traditional male circumcision as an initiation rite every two years. Traditional circumcision ceremonies involve many practices that increase the

12 circumcision candidate?s risk of acquiring HIV, including the practice of circumcision by untrained circumcisers in unhygienic settings. So, the Ministry of Health, with assistance from HCP and the STAR-E Project, worked with a group of concerned citizens in the Bugisu region to develop a HIV prevention campaign entitled?we are the Pride of our Tribe? promoting safer sex practices during the circumcision season, and an advocacy strategy aimed at convincing traditional leaders in that area to promote safe medical circumcision instead of tradition circumcision. This section of the toolkit includes the campaign strategy and mass media materials. Campaign Strategy HIV Prevention in Traditionally Circumcising Areas This document was developed to help the creative agency understand the issues behind the need for an HIV prevention strategy specifically targeting communities where people are traditionally circumcised; some traditional practices during the ceremonies increase people's the risk of contracting HIV. Mass Media

13 Bugisu Poster 1 This poster promotes the best practices of Safe Male Circumcision in the context of the Bugisu traditional circumcising ceremonies. Bugisu Poster 2 This poster promotes the best practices of Safe Male Circumcision in the context of the Bugisu traditional circumcising ceremonies. Bugisu SMC Song Radio Spots These radio spots promote responsible behavior and faithfulness after traditional circumcision ceremonies. Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Randomized Clinical Trial Publications from Kenya and Uganda In 2007, results from three large randomized clinical trials in Kenya, Uganda and South Africa were published, showing that medically performed circumcision is safe and can reduce men?s risk of HIV infection by 60%. In each trial, uncircumcised men were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Participants in one group were offered immediate circumcision (the treatment group), while those in the other group (the control group) were offered circumcision at the end of the trial. Over a 24-month period, researchers tested the men?s blood for HIV. The results revealed a much lower rate of new HIV infections among men in the circumcised groups compared to the

14 men assigned to the uncircumcised groups during the trials. Results of Randomised Trial These reports are based on randomised trials in Uganda and Kenya, which revealed a protection for men from contracting HIV once they had undergone safe male circumcision. Factors that Influence Men to Seek or Reject Male Circumcision, conducted by HCP in 2009 Operational Research (Traditional and Nontraditional Circumcising Communities) The study established the factors that influence the decisions of young men to seek medical male circumcision. The results of this study contributed towards to design of a communication strategy to promote male circumcision for HIV prevention in Uganda 2010 HCP Survey -- SMC Highlights 2010 HCP Survey Results-SMC This is a summary of the highlights from the 2010 HCP Survey about the public education campaign that ran about SMC.

15 Logo SMC Service Point Logo One of the major reasons for developing a logo is so that service points can be idetnified. In this case, a Safe Male Circumcision logo was created and is being used by the Ministry of Health to mark the service points, which helps to drive demand for the services. Partners Below are the partners that are supporting the efforts of the Ministry of Health to provide high quality safe male circumcision services as well as comprehensive HIV prevention education. African Medical Research Education Foundation (AMREF) AIDS Information Centre (AIC) Baylor-Uganda Health Initiatives for Private Sector HIPS Infectious Disease Institute (IDI) Inter Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) Makerere School of Public Health (SPH) Makerere Mbarara University Joint AIDS Program (MJAP) Makerere University Walter Reed Project (MUWRP) Ministry of Health (MOH) Northern Uganda Malarial AIDS and Tuberculosis Program (NUMAT) STAR-E Strengthening TB and HIV/AIDs Responses in Eastern Uganda STAR-EC Strengthening TB and HIV/AIDs Responses in Eastern Central Uganda STAR-SW Strengthening TB and HIV/AIDs Responses in South Western Uganda Supporting Public Sector Workplaces to Expand Action and Responses (Spear) Against HIV&AIDS Project The AIDS Support Organization (TASO) Success Stories

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