biostudies-literatureUnknownUnsworth MNIAID NIH HHSNINR NIH HHSUp 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 persmedRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences2024.11.26.24317997https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11623716biostudies-literatureWhat 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.PMC11623716P30 AI027757R01 NR019229Fabens IHlongwane SDong TMakhele CSharma MNdebele FTweya HSetswe GPhohole MFeldacker CPienaar JSardini MMoyo KHolec MUnsworth MIgaba NfalseWhat 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.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 pers2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Nov2026-05-31T03:10:48.912Z2025-04-04T02:54:52.247ZS-EPMC116237163964960410.1101/2024.11.26.24317997