title: Partner notification among men who have sex with men and heterosexuals with STI/HIV: different outcomes and challenges.
abstract: Partner notification effectiveness among index clients diagnosed with HIV, syphilis and/or gonorrhoea at sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinics was evaluated between 2010 and 2012. We explored percentages of identifiable, notified and tested partners by sexual preference and gender. Partner notification trends were studied using the national STI database. Men who have sex with men (n = 304), heterosexual men (n = 33) and women (n = 35) reported, respectively, 6.7, 3.8 and 2.3 partners per index. Percentages of identifiable partners differed between groups (men who have sex with men: 46%, heterosexual men: 63%, women: 87%, p < 0.001). The percentage of notified partners (of those identifiable) was lowest for heterosexual men (76%; men who have sex with men: 92%; women: 83%; p < 0.001). STI positivity rates among notified partners were high: 33%-50% depending on sexual preference. Among men who have sex with men, having HIV was associated with not notifying all identifiable partners. Percentages of notified clients at STI clinics increased between 2010 and 2012: from 13% to 19% among men who have sex with men, from 13% to 18% among heterosexual men and from 8% to 11% among women (p < 0.001 for all groups). The percentage of STI/HIV detected through partner notification increased among men who have sex with men (from 22% to 30%) and women (from 25% to 29%; p < 0.001). Unidentifiable partners among men who have sex with men, lower partner notification effectiveness for HIV and the relative large proportion of heterosexual men not notifying their partners appear to be important partner notification challenges.
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology and Surveillance, Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands fleur.van.aar@rivm.nl.
authors.forename: Fleur
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: van Aar
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology and Surveillance, Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: van Weert
authors.affiliation: STI AIDS Netherlands, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Spijker
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology and Surveillance, Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands Department Infectious Disease Control, Public Health Service Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hannelore
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Götz
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology and Surveillance, Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Eline
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Op de Coul
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016358:Contact Tracing / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000635:transmission*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000635:transmission*; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009426:Netherlands; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012042:Registries; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D013587:Syphilis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000635:transmission*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: HIV; Partner notification; contact tracing; heterosexuals; men who have sex with men; sexually transmitted infection; sexually transmitted infection clinic