title: Predictors of male partner treatment for sexually transmitted infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patient-initiated notification is a commonly used practice for notifying sex partners of possible exposure to a sexually transmitted infection (STI); however, 46% to 75% of partners are never treated. The Contraceptive CHOICE Project (CHOICE) is a longitudinal cohort study of women that provides no-cost contraception, STI testing, treatment to participants, and free partner treatment. Our objective was to evaluate characteristics of women who tested positive for chlamydia, gonorrhea, or trichomoniasis, and their association with successful partner treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed baseline survey and STI testing, notification, and treatment data from the first 5087 participants enrolled in CHOICE. We considered "treated partners" to be men who received antibiotic treatment at the study clinic or by a prescription through the study. Independent predictors of successful partner treatment were identified using univariate analysis and multivariable analysis using Poisson regression with robust error variance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-four percent of male partners were successfully treated. Women whose partners were less likely to obtain treatment were black (adjusted Relative Risk (RR adj) RR adj = 0.6; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.5-0.8) or reported some concern about future STI with the partner (RR adj = 0.6; 95% CI: 0.4, 0.8). Women whose partners were more likely to receive treatment were living with their partner (RR adj = 1.4; 95% CI: 1.1-1.8) or reported recent inconsistent condom use (RR adj = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.1-2.1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The male partner treatment rate resulting from female patient-initiated partner notification in our study was low. Our findings highlight the need to develop novel notification interventions that yield higher partner treatment rates and consider patient-specific factors, such as race and relationship status.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. securag@wudosis.wustl.edu
authors.forename: Gina M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Secura
authors.forename: Fidel A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Desir
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Mullersman
authors.forename: Tessa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Madden
authors.forename: Jenifer E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Allsworth
authors.forename: Jeffrey F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Peipert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016358:Contact Tracing; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014245:Trichomonas Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult