Abstract:
Background: Early Infant Male Circumcision (EIMC) is part of sustainable HIV prevention strategies in Kenya. The goals
of the national EIMC program are to circumcise at least 40% of all newborn male infants delivered at hospitals offering the
service and keep the rate of moderate and adverse events below 2%.
Objectives: To determine the proportion of early male infants (age less than 60 days) born at hospitals in four counties of
western Kenya who got circumcised and document the prevalence of adverse events (AEs) among those circumcised.
Methods: A retrospective descriptive study involving all records for EIMC from 1st March 2014 through 31st March 2018
in four counties of western Kenya. Data analysis was done using EXEL to document proportion of facilities offering EIMC
and compare EIMC uptake and outcomes in the four counties against the national goals for the program.
Results: A mean of 4.3% of total health facilities offer EIMC in the region. Siaya had the highest proportion of facilities
offering EIMC while Migori had the lowest proportion. Uptake of EIMC was low at 17.4% for all male infants born, far less
than the anticipated target of 40%. Average adverse event rates were 0.3%.
Conclusion: EIMC uptake remains low in this region of Kenya due to small number of health facilities offering the service.
The proportion of circumcised early male infants born at the target health facilities is below the national target of 40% even
though the rate of adverse events among those circumcised is acceptable.
