Dataset Information

Is it all about the money? A qualitative exploration of the effects of performance-based financial incentives on Zimbabwe's voluntary male medical circumcision program.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In 2013, Zimbabwe's voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) program adopted performance-based financing (PBF) to speed progress towards ambitious VMMC targets. The $25 USD PBF intended to encourage low-paid healthcare workers to remain in the public sector and to strengthen the public healthcare system. The majority of the incentive supports healthcare workers (HCWs) who perform VMMC alongside other routine services; a small portion supports province, district, and facility levels.

Methods

This qualitative study assessed the effect of the PBF on HCW motivation, satisfaction, and professional relationships. The study objectives were to: 1) Gain understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of PBF at the HCW level; 2) Gain understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of PBF at the site level; and 3) Inform scale up, modification, or discontinuation of PBF for the national VMMC program. Sixteen focus groups were conducted: eight with HCWs who received PBF for VMMC and eight with HCWs in the same clinics who did not work in VMMC and, therefore, did not receive PBF. Fourteen key informant interviews ascertained administrator opinion.

Results

Findings suggest that PBF appreciably increased motivation among VMMC teams and helped improve facilities where VMMC services are provided. However, PBF appears to contribute to antagonism at the workplace, creating divisiveness that may reach beyond VMMC. PBF may also cause distortion in the healthcare system: HCWs prioritized incentivized VMMC services over other routine duties. To reduce workplace tension and improve the VMMC program, participants suggested increasing HCW training in VMMC to expand PBF beneficiaries and strengthening integration of VMMC services into routine care.

Conclusion

In the low-resource, short-staffed context of Zimbabwe, PBF enabled rapid VMMC scale up and achievement of ambitious targets; however, side effects make PBF less advantageous and sustainable than envisioned. Careful consideration is warranted in choosing whether, and how, to implement PBF to prioritize a public health program.

SUBMITTER: Feldacker C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5354455 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Is it all about the money? A qualitative exploration of the effects of performance-based financial incentives on Zimbabwe's voluntary male medical circumcision program.

Feldacker Caryl C Bochner Aaron F AF Herman-Roloff Amy A Holec Marrianne M Murenje Vernon V Stepaniak Abby A Xaba Sinokuthemba S Tshimanga Mufata M Chitimbire Vuyelwa V Makaure Shingirai S Hove Joseph J Barnhart Scott S Makunike Batsirai B

PloS one 20170316 3

<h4>Background</h4>In 2013, Zimbabwe's voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) program adopted performance-based financing (PBF) to speed progress towards ambitious VMMC targets. The $25 USD PBF intended to encourage low-paid healthcare workers to remain in the public sector and to strengthen the public healthcare system. The majority of the incentive supports healthcare workers (HCWs) who perform VMMC alongside other routine services; a small portion supports province, district, and facility ...[more]

PMID: 28301588

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Project description:ObjectiveAlthough adverse events (AEs) following voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) are rare, their prompt ascertainment and management is a marker of quality care. The use of two-way text messaging (2wT) for client follow-up after VMMC reduces the need for clinic visits (standard of care (SoC)) without compromising safety. We compared the cost-effectiveness of 2wT to SoC for post-VMMC follow-up in two, high-volume, public VMMC sites in Zimbabwe.Materials and methodsWe developed a decision-analytic (decision tree) model of post-VMMC client follow-up at two high-volume sites. We parameterized the model using data from both a randomized controlled study of 2wT vs. SoC and from the routine VMMC program. The perspective of analysis was the Zimbabwe government (payer). The time horizon covered the time from VMMC to wound healing. Costs included text messaging; both in-person and outreach follow-up; and AE management. Costs were estimated in 2018 U.S. dollars. The outcome of analysis was AE yield relative to the globally accepted safety standard of a 2% AE rate. We estimated the incremental cost per percentage increase in AE ascertainment and the incremental cost per additional AE identified. We conducted univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analyses.Results2wT increased the costs due to text messaging by $4.42 but reduced clinic visit costs by $2.92 and outreach costs by $3.61 -a net savings of $2.10. 2wT also increased AE ascertainment by 50% (92% AE yield in 2wT compared to 42% AE yield in SoC). Therefore, 2wT dominated SoC in the incremental analysis: 2wT was less costly and more effective. Results were generally robust to univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analysis.Conclusions2wT is cost-effective for post-VMMC follow-up in Zimbabwe. Countries in which VMMC is a high-priority HIV prevention intervention should consider this mHealth intervention to reduce overall cost per VMMC, increasing the likelihood of current and future VMMC program sustainability.

Project description:Despite compelling evidence linking voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) with 60-70% HIV risk reduction in sub-Saharan Africa, Zambian men have been especially reluctant to undergo VMMC. The Government of Zambia set targets for VMMC uptake and promoted community-level interventions. Spear & Shield (S&S) is an innovative, evidence-based, service program promoting VMMC uptake while ensuring both VMMC supply and demand. This study assessed the large-scale provincial rollout of the program (S&S2) utilizing the RE-AIM model for translating interventions into the community. The S&S2 study was conducted between November 2015 and December 2020, and sequentially rolled out over four Zambian provinces in 96 clinics; 24 observation clinics received VMMC training only. Local clinic healthcare workers were trained to conduct the VMMC procedure and HIV counselors were trained to lead S&S group sessions. Using the RE-AIM model, primary outcomes were: Reach, the number, proportion, and representativeness of S&S attendees; Effectiveness, the impact of S&S2 on VMMC uptake; Adoption, the number, proportion, and representativeness of clinics implementing S&S2; Implementation, fidelity to the S&S intervention manual; and Maintenance, the extent to which S&S2 became an element of standard care within community clinics. Initially, n = 109 clinics were recruited; 96 were sustained and randomized for activation (Adoption). A total of 45,630 clinic patients (n = 23,236 men and n = 22,394 women) volunteered to attend the S&S sessions (Reach). The S&S2 program ran over 2,866 clinic-months (Implementation). Although the study did not target individual-level VMMCs, ~58,301 additional VMMCs were conducted at the clinic level (Effectiveness). Fidelity to the S&S intervention by group leaders ranged from 42%-95%. Sustainability of the program was operationalized as the number of CHCs initially activated that sustained the program. Intervention delivery ended, however, when study funding ceased (Maintenance). The S&S2 program successfully utilized the RE-AIM model to achieve study goals for implementation and dissemination in four Zambian provinces. Innovative VMMC programs such as S&S2 can improve the uptake of VMMC, one of the most effective strategies in the HIV prevention arsenal.

Project description:IntroductionEnsuring quality service provision is fundamental to ZAZIC's voluntary medical male circumcision (MC) program in Zimbabwe. From October, 2014 to September, 2017, ZAZIC conducted 205,847 MCs. Passive surveillance recorded a combined moderate and severe adverse event (AE) rate of 0.3%; reported adherence to follow-up was 95%, suggesting program safety. Despite encouraging passive surveillance data, verification of data quality and accuracy would increase confidence in AE identification.MethodsFrom May to August, 2017, ZAZIC implemented a focused quality assurance (QA) study on AE ascertainment and documentation at 6 purposively-selected, high-volume MC sites. ZAZIC Gold-Standard (GS) clinicians prospectively observed 100 post-MC follow-ups per site in tandem with facility-based MC providers to confirm and characterize AEs, providing mentoring in AE management when needed. GS clinicians also retrospectively reviewed site-based, routine MC data, comparing recorded to reported AEs, and held brief qualitative interviews with site leadership on AE-related issues.ResultsObserved AE rates varied from 1-8%, potentially translating to thousands of unidentified AEs if observed AE rates were applied to previous MC performance. Most observed AEs were infections among younger clients. Retrospective review found discrepancies in AE documentation and reporting. Interviews suggest human resource and transport issues challenge MC follow-up visit attendance. Post-operative self-care appears to produce generally good results for adults; however, younger clients and guardians need additional attention to ensure quality care. There was no evidence of missed severe AEs resulting in permanent impairment or morbidity.ConclusionsAlthough results cannot be generalized, active surveillance suggests that AEs may be higher and follow-up lower than reported. In response, ZAZIC's Quality Assurance Task Force will replicate this QA study in other sites; increase training in AE identification, management, and documentation for clinical and data teams; and improve post-operative counseling for younger clients. Additional nurses and vehicles, especially in rural health clinics, could be beneficial.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Surgical male circumcision (MC) safely reduces risk of female-to-male HIV-1 transmission by up to 60%. The average rate of global moderate and severe adverse events (AEs) is 0.8%: 99% of men heal from MC without incident. To reach the 2016 global MC target of 20 million, productivity must double in countries plagued by severe healthcare worker shortages like Zimbabwe. The ZAZIC consortium partners with the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care and has performed over 120,000 MCs. MC care in Zimbabwe requires in-person, follow-up visits at post-operative days 2,7, and 42. The ZAZIC program AE rate is 0.4%; therefore, overstretched clinic have staff conducted more than 200,000 unnecessary reviews of MC clients without complications. METHODS:Through an un-blinded, prospective, randomized, controlled trial in two high-volume MC facilities, we will compare two groups of adult MC clients with cell phones, randomized 1:1 into two groups: (1) routine care (control group, N?=?361) and (2) clients who receive and respond to a daily text with in-person follow up only if desired or if a complication is suspected (intervention group, N?=?361). If an intervention client responds affirmatively to any automated daily text with a suspected AE, an MC nurse will exchange manual, modifiable, scripted texts with the client to determine symptoms and severity, requesting an in-person visit if desired or warranted. Both arms will complete a study-specific, day 14, in-person, follow-up review for verification of self-reports (intervention) and comparison (control). Data collection includes extraction of routine client MC records, study-specific database reports, and participant usability surveys. Intent-to-treat (ITT) analysis will be used to explore differences between groups to determine if two-way texting (2wT) can safely reduce MC follow-up visits, estimate the cost savings associated with 2wT over routine MC follow up, and assess the acceptability and feasibility of 2wT for scale up. DISCUSSION:It is expected that this mobile health intervention will be as safe as routine care while providing distinct advantages in efficiency, costs, and reduced healthcare worker burden. The success of this intervention could lead to adaptation and adoption of this intervention at the national level, increasing the efficiency of MC scale up, and reducing burdens on providers and patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION:ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03119337 . Registered on 18 April 2017.

Project description: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.

Dataset Information

Is it all about the money? A qualitative exploration of the effects of performance-based financial incentives on Zimbabwe's voluntary male medical circumcision program.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Is it all about the money? A qualitative exploration of the effects of performance-based financial incentives on Zimbabwe's voluntary male medical circumcision program.

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