title: Partner Notification Among Peruvian Pregnant Women With Syphilis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As part of an implementation research study on the feasibility of implementing point-of-care tests for syphilis in Peru, we collected information on partner treatment of syphilis-seropositive pregnant women and explored womens' and health providers' knowledge and practices regarding partner notification and treatment (PNT) for maternal syphilis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mixed methods were used to collect information. Quantitative data were collected from consecutive pregnant women with a positive point-of-care test for syphilis. A subset participated in qualitative interviews. Health providers completed a survey on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors about PNT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 144 seropositive women, 46 (31.9%) had concurrent patient-partner treatment. From the 98 seropositive women whose partner was not at the clinic, 33 partners (33.7%) received at least 1 dose of penicillin. The multivariate model showed that screening at the antenatal care clinic (prevalence ratio [PR], 3.84), first sex after age 16 years (PR, 0.55), and lifetime number of partners (PR, 0.55 for 2-4 partners; PR, 0.77 for >4 partners) were independently associated with treatment for the partner. Women identified the provider as key for the PNT, but less than half of the providers reported having been trained for counseling and recognize the need for defining the procedures and standardization for PNT. Providers and women both reported that men may not come for treatment once notified because of fear, distrust of the system, or barriers associated with the services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a need for better training of health providers, for clear and standardized processes for partner counseling, registration and follow-up, and an opportunity to introduce new technologies.
authors.affiliation: From the *Epidemiology, STD, and HIV Unit, School of Public Health and Administration, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru; †Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA; ‡Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, University of Columbia, New York, NY; §London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Patricia J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: César P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Cárcamo
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chiappe
authors.forename: King K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.forename: Rosana W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Peeling
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Mabey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016358:Contact Tracing; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology*; D037841:Pregnant People; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012747:Sexual Partners; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013587:Syphilis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*