A systematic review of HIV partner counseling and referral services: client and provider attitudes, preferences, practices, and experiences.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this study were to understand client and provider attitudes, experiences, and practices regarding HIV partner notification in the United States and to help identify future research and program needs.


OBJECTIVE
The goals of this study were to synthesize the literature reporting client and provider attitudes, experiences, and practices and to identify potential negative effects of HIV partner notification.


METHODS
This study consisted of a systematic qualitative review.


RESULTS
Clients were willing to self-notify partners and participate in provider notification, and few reported negative effects. The majority of health care providers were in favor of HIV partner notification; however, they did not consistently refer index clients to HIV partner notification programs.


CONCLUSIONS
Considering that clients have positive attitudes toward self- and provider referral, local HIV prevention programs need to ensure that all HIV-positive clients are offered partner notification services. Additional research is needed to assess the potential risks of notifying partners and to identify effective techniques to improve client and provider participation.
Passin
Warren F
WF
National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. wpassin@cdc.gov
Kim
Angela S
AS
Hutchinson
Angela B
AB
Crepaz
Nicole
N
Herbst
Jeffrey H
JH
Lyles
Cynthia M
CM
D001290:Attitude; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016358:Contact Tracing; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States