Partner Notification in Cuba: Results of 15 years of work.
Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. F11742)
Fiol JJ, Valluerca JP, Torres Pena R, Santin Pena M, Abreu MI, Alonso Gomez ME Ministry of Public Health, Ciudad Habana, Cuba
Partner Notification is an approach widely applied in Cuba as part of a comprehensive Control Progamme for HIV-infection and Aids since the very begining of the epidemic. Every newly diagnosed HIV-positive case is interviewed by a trained personel (epidemiologyst or STI specialized nurse) and is asked to mention his/her sexual partners in the last 10 years. Then, if possible, those sexual contacts are located and tested. The procedure is repeated with every new case. Confidentiallity and voluntariety are assured.. From January 1st 1986 through December 31 2001, 3874 HIV-positive patients interviewed named 21 480 sexual contacts. 17137 (79.7%) out of this number were located, counselled and tested and 1116 (6.5%) had positive results to ELISA and Western Blot. Considering that 1116 new cases represents 28% of the total number of HIV-positive patients diagnosed in the country in 15 years, we conclude that this is a useful method for both informing people about their serologic status and targeting educational messages in settings with a comprehensive National Aids programme.
Keywords: AEGIS, Contact Tracing, HIV Infections, Sexual Partners, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, Counseling, Work, Interviews, Time, Cuba, Human
