Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34403409›Full record

Trial reportPloS one2021

Description of adverse events among adult men following voluntary medical male circumcision: Findings from a circumcision programme in two provinces of South Africa.

Evans Muchiri, Salome Charalambous, Sibuse Ginindza, Mpho Maraisane, Tintswalo Maringa, Peter Vranken, Dayanund Loykissoonlal, Vincent Muturi-Kioi, Candice M Chetty-Makkan

Abstract readClinical Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Trial
  3. Article
  4. A comparative analysis of voluntary medical male circumcision before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Gauteng province, South Africa.South African family practice : official journal of the South African Academy of Family Practice/Primary Care · 2025
    Article
  5. Article
  6. Review
  7. Article
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

9 authors.

Evans MuchiriThe Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa.ORCID 0000-0003-4642-2674
Salome CharalambousThe Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Sibuse GinindzaThe Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Mpho MaraisaneThe Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Tintswalo MaringaCDC South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa.
Peter VrankenCDC South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa.
Dayanund LoykissoonlalNational Department of Health, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Vincent Muturi-KioiInternational AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), Nairobi, Kenya.ORCID 0000-0003-1620-3999
Candice M Chetty-MakkanThe Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Funding

CGH CDC HHS U01 GH000522PEPFAR
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundClinical trials showed strong evidence that voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) reduces the acquisition of HIV among heterosexual men by up to 60%. However, VMMC uptake in East and Southern Africa remains suboptimal, with safety concerns identified as a barrier to uptake. We investigated the occurrence and severity of adverse events (AEs) in a routine VMMC programme implemented in Gauteng and North West provinces of South Africa.

methodsWe describe the frequency and characteristics of AEs using routinely collected data from a VMMC programme implemented between 01 May 2013 and 31 December 2014. The surgical procedure was provided at fixed clinics and mobile units in three districts. Adult men undertaking the procedure were referred for follow-up appointments where AEs were monitored.

resultsA total of 7,963 adult men were offered the VMMC service with 7,864 (98.8%) met the age and consent requirements for inclusion in a research follow-up after the surgical procedure and were followed-up for potential AEs. In total, 37 (0.5%) patients reported AEs post-surgery with infection [11 (29.7%)] and excessive bleeding [11 (29.7%)] commonly reported AEs. In terms of severity, 14 (37.8%) were classified as mild, 13 (35.1%) as moderate, and 10 (27.0%) as severe. Further, 32 (86.5%) of the AEs were classified as definitely related to the surgical procedure, with 36 (97.5%) of all AEs resolving without sequelae.

conclusionThe VMMC programme was able to reach adult men at high risk of HIV acquisition. Reported AEs in the programme were minimal, with the observed safety profile comparable to clinical trial settings, suggesting that VMMC can be safely administered in a programmatic setting.

Indexed as

InfectionsVoluntary ProgramsAdolescentAdultAfrica, SouthernCircumcision, MaleFollow-Up StudiesHIV-1HIV InfectionsHumansMaleMiddle AgedPostoperative HemorrhageRetrospective StudiesSouth Africa

Identifiers

PMID34403409
PMCPMC8370616

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.