What does it cost to expand two-way texting for post-operative follow-up? A cost analysis in routine voluntary medical male circumcision settings in South Africa.

ABSTRACT: Up to 98% of adult voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) clients heal without adverse events (AEs) in South Africa and in the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region, yet all clients in South Africa (SA) are still required to attend in-person reviews, creating added work for providers and barriers for clients. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) using our fee-free, open-source, two-way texting (2wT) approach showed that males could independently monitor their healing with support from VMMC nurse-led telehealth and that 2wT was more cost-effective than routine visits for quality post-operative monitoring. The objectives of this costing activity were to assess the additive cost of 2wT vs. SoC during a stepped wedge design (SWD) expansion trial; costing an augmentation of 2wT with dedicated pers

SUBMITTER: Unsworth M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11623716 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature