Partner notification of sexually transmitted infections: a large cohort of Mexican American and African American women.
OBJECTIVE
To determine factors associated with partner notification (PN) of sexually transmitted infection (STI) exposure among low-income Mexican American and African American women and their male sexual partners.


OBJECTIVE
To identify women most likely to notify their partners about an STI exposure.


METHODS
Cross-sectional analysis of 775 women with a nonviral STI. The primary outcome, PN, is notification of, or intent to notify male sexual partner(s) of STI exposure. A comprehensive intake interview was used to obtain sociodemographic, psychosocial, communication, and relationship information for the patients and each male sexual partner. Chi square analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to determine factors independently associated with PN.


RESULTS
The 775 women identified 1122 male sexual partners. Of women with 1, 2, and 3 or more partners, 87.9%, 41.4%, and 25.0% reported PN for all partners respectively. Logistic regression demonstrated that 5 variables independently predicted PN: a "steady" relationship (OR: 5.25; CI: 2.82-4.91), 1 partner (OR: 2.10; CI: 1.71-2.56), recent intercourse (OR: 1.37; CI: 1.21-1.54), anticipated ongoing sexual activity (OR: 1.48; CI: 1.04-2.10), and/or desire for pregnancy with that partner (OR: 1.68; CI: 1.10-2.58). Patient and partner sociodemographic variables were not significantly associated with PN. Responses to specific relationship and communication variables, although significant, did not remain independent in the final logistic regression model.


CONCLUSIONS
Among low-income Mexican American and African American women, the perception that a relationship with individual partner(s) was committed was predictive of PN.
Thurman
Andrea Ries
AR
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Health Sciences Center San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, USA. thurmana@uthscsa.edu
Shain
Rochelle N
RN
Holden
Alan E C
AE
Champion
Jane Dimmitt
JD
Perdue
Sondra T
ST
Piper
Jeanna M
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016358:Contact Tracing; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors