AEGiS-13IAC: Partner notification for HIV: effects of relationships and behaviors.

13th International AIDS Conference

Durban, South Africa - July 9-July 14, 2000

Partner notification for HIV: effects of relationships and behaviors.

Int Conf AIDS 2000 Jul 9-14; 13:(abstract no. ThOrC766)

Kissinger P, Niccolai LM, Miller MD, Myers L, Richardson G, Dorst D, Ayoub M, Farley TA, Peterman TA
P. Kissinger, Tulane University - School of Public Health, HOP, 136 S. Roman Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70125, United States, Tel.: +1 504 568 7306, Fax: +1 504 568 5313, E-mail: kissing@tulane.edu

OBJECTIVE: To assess changes in relationships and behaviors after partner notification (PN) for HIV, and to compare these changes to PN for syphilis.

METHODS: Individuals were eligible if they received PN services for a diagnosis of HIV infection or syphilis or if they were sex partners who were notified of their potential exposure. Follow-up visits occurred at 3 months and 6 months after PN, and trained interviewers administered a questionnaire at each visit.

RESULTS: A total of 112 individuals with 159 partnerships who had at least one follow-up visit were included in the analysis. The study population was 98% African-American, 86% heterosexual and 53% female. After 3 months of follow-up, 53% of HIV and 51% of syphilis index relationships had ended (p>.80). In the HIV group, the HIV-concordant partnerships were more likely to be discontinued than the HIV-discordant partnerships (63% vs. 39%). In 16% (3/19) of continued HIV index relationships and 20% (6/30) of continued syphilis index relationships the couples were abstinent at 3 months (p>.70). For continued sexually active relationships, consistent condom use increased from 31% to 56% among HIV index relationships and decreased from 33% to 25% among syphilis index relationships (p>.01). A total of 35 new partnerships formed among index cases during follow-up (8 HIV, 27 syphilis). Seven of the 8 new HIV partnerships were discordant or of unknown concordance status. For HIV index persons, there were fewer concordant relationships (.24 vs .55 per index case) and fewer discordant relationships (.38 vs .58 per index case) at 3 months compared to baseline. No episodes of physical violence and 2 episodes of emotional violence were reportedly due to PN.

CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that PN for HIV may decrease transmission. The frequency of sero-discordance among new partnerships that formed after HIV PN, however, suggest a need to conduct ongoing PN or skills building in status disclosure.

Keywords: AEGIS, Contact Tracing, HIV, HIV Infections, HIV Seropositivity, Heterosexuality, Syphilis, Interpersonal Relations, Female
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