Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26716442›Full record

ArticlePloS one2015

Investigating Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision Program Efficiency Gains through Subpopulation Prioritization: Insights from Application to Zambia.

Susanne F Awad, Sema K Sgaier, Bushimbwa C Tambatamba, Yousra A Mohamoud, Fiona K Lau, Jason B Reed, Emmanuel Njeuhmeli, Laith J Abu-Raddad

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 41 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
41citing papers in PubMed, 5 pooled it
6.2field-weighted citation impact, top 3% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

41 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 46 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Evidence Gaps in Economic Evaluations of HIV Interventions Targeting Young People: A Systematic Review.The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine · 2024
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 6 institutions in 3 countries.

Susanne F AwadInfectious Disease Epidemiology Group, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Cornell University, Qatar Foundation, Education City, Doha, Qatar.
Sema K SgaierIntegrated Delivery, Global Development Program, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.
Bushimbwa C TambatambaMinistry of Community Development and Mother and Child Health, Lusaka, Zambia.
Yousra A MohamoudInfectious Disease Epidemiology Group, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Cornell University, Qatar Foundation, Education City, Doha, Qatar.
Fiona K LauIntegrated Delivery, Global Development Program, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.
Jason B ReedOffice of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America.
Emmanuel NjeuhmeliUnited States Agency for International Development, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America.
Laith J Abu-RaddadInfectious Disease Epidemiology Group, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Cornell University, Qatar Foundation, Education City, Doha, Qatar.
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation · USWeill Cornell Medical College in Qatar · QAAIDS United · USCornell University · USMinistry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health · ZMUnited States Agency for International Development · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCountries in sub-Saharan Africa are scaling-up voluntary male medical circumcision (VMMC) as an HIV intervention. Emerging challenges in these programs call for increased focus on program efficiency (optimizing program impact while minimizing cost). A novel analytic approach was developed to determine how subpopulation prioritization can increase program efficiency using an illustrative application for Zambia. METHODS AND

findingsA population-level mathematical model was constructed describing the heterosexual HIV epidemic and impact of VMMC programs (age-structured mathematical (ASM) model). The model stratified the population according to sex, circumcision status, age group, sexual-risk behavior, HIV status, and stage of infection. A three-level conceptual framework was also developed to determine maximum epidemic impact and program efficiency through subpopulation prioritization, based on age, geography, and risk profile. In the baseline scenario, achieving 80% VMMC coverage by 2017 among males 15-49 year old, 12 VMMCs were needed per HIV infection averted (effectiveness). The cost per infection averted (cost-effectiveness) was USD $1,089 and 306,000 infections were averted. Through age-group prioritization, effectiveness ranged from 11 (20-24 age-group) to 36 (45-49 age-group); cost-effectiveness ranged from $888 (20-24 age-group) to $3,300 (45-49 age-group). Circumcising 10-14, 15-19, or 20-24 year old achieved the largest incidence rate reduction; prioritizing 15-24, 15-29, or 15-34 year old achieved the greatest program efficiency. Through geographic prioritization, effectiveness ranged from 9-12. Prioritizing Lusaka achieved the highest effectiveness. Through risk-group prioritization, prioritizing the highest risk group achieved the highest effectiveness, with only one VMMC needed per infection averted; the lowest risk group required 80 times more VMMCs.

conclusionEpidemic impact and efficiency of VMMC programs can be improved by prioritizing young males (sexually active or just before sexual debut), geographic areas with higher HIV prevalence than the national, and high sexual-risk groups.

Indexed as

AdolescentAdultChildCircumcision, MaleCost-Benefit AnalysisEfficiency, OrganizationalEpidemicsHIV InfectionsHumansMaleMiddle AgedNational Health ProgramsPrevalenceSexual BehaviorVoluntary ProgramsYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID26716442
PMCPMC4696770
OpenAlexW2220552627

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC0
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.