Readiness of health facilities to deliver safe male circumcision services in Tanzania: a descriptive study


Submitted: 10 January 2013
Accepted: 2 February 2013
Published: 8 March 2013
Abstract Views: 1233
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Authors

  • Frank Felix Mosha National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza Centre, Tanzania., Tanzania, United Republic of.
  • Mwita Wambura National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania, Tanzania, United Republic of.
  • Joseph R. Mwanga National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania, Tanzania, United Republic of.
  • Jacklin F. Mosha National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania, Tanzania, United Republic of.
  • Gerry Mshana National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania, Tanzania, United Republic of.
  • John Changalucha National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania, Tanzania, United Republic of.
Assessing the readiness of health facilities to deliver safe male circumcision services is more important in sub-Saharan Africa because of the inadequacy state of health facilities in many ways. The World Health Organization recommends that only facilities equipped with available trained staff, capable to perform at least minor surgery, able to offer minimum MC package and appropriate equipment for resuscitation, and compliant with requirements for sterilization and infection control should be allowed to deliver safe circumcision services. A cross-sectional study using quantitative data collection technique was conducted to assess the readiness of the health facilities to deliver safe circumcision services in selected districts of Tanzania. All hospitals, health centres and 30% of all dispensaries in these districts were selected to participate in the study. Face-toface questionnaires were administered to the heads of the health facilities and to health practitioners. Overall, 49/69 (59%) of the facilities visited provided circumcision services and only 46/203 (24%) of the health practitioners performed circumcision procedures. These were mainly assistant medical officers and clinical officers. The vast majority – 190/203 (95%) – of the health practitioners require additional training prior to providing circumcision services. Most facilities – 63/69 (91%) – had all basic supplies (gloves, basin, chlorine and waste disposal) necessary for infection prevention, 44/69 (65%) provided condoms, HIV counselling and testing, and sexuallytransmitted infections services, while 62/69 (90%) had the capability to perform at least minor surgery. However, only 25/69 (36%) and 15/69 (22%) of the facilities had functioning sterilization equipment and appropriate resuscitation equipment, respectively. There is readiness for roll out of circumcision services; however, more practitioners need to be trained on circumcision procedures, demand forecasting. Sterilization equipment for infection prevention and resuscitation equipment should also be made available.

Frank Felix Mosha, National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza Centre, Tanzania.
Senior Research Scientist, Sexual Reproductive Health.

Supporting Agencies

Ministry of Health Tanzania and Social Welfare and the National AIDS Control Programme (Government of Tanzania)

Mosha, F. F., Wambura, M., Mwanga, J. R., Mosha, J. F., Mshana, G., & Changalucha, J. (2013). Readiness of health facilities to deliver safe male circumcision services in Tanzania: a descriptive study. Healthcare in Low-Resource Settings, 1(1), e9. https://doi.org/10.4081/hls.2013.e9

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