Partner notification and treatment for sexually transmitted infections among pregnant women in Gaborone, Botswana.
Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) are sexually transmitted infections (STIs) associated with adverse birth outcomes. Untreated partners contribute to high rates of STI reinfection; thus, partner notification and treatment remain important components of STI care and control. A prospective cohort study was conducted among 300 pregnant women presenting to the antenatal clinic at Princess Marina Hospital in Gaborone, Botswana who enrolled in an STI screening study. Following informed consent and sample collection for CT/NG/TV testing, participants were asked if they were willing to disclose their STI result and to deliver medications to their partner(s). Those who tested positive were asked at a follow-up appointment if they notified their partners. Among the 300 participants, 294 (98%) said they would be willing to tell their partner(s) about their test results if they tested positive, and 284 (95%) said they would be willing to give their partner(s) medication if the option was available. Of those who tested positive and returned for a test of cure, 27 of 32 (84%) reported that they told their partner about the results, and 20 of 32 (63%) reported that their partner received treatment. Almost all pregnant women reported willingness to tell their partner the STI test result and give their partner medications. At test of cure, most women reported informing their partner, although actual treatment receipt was lower. Our findings suggest that pregnant women are willing to utilize patient-based partner notification, but actual partner treatment might be lower than intended.
1 David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.|2 Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Ogechukwu A
OA
Offorjebe
3 UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Adriane
A
Wynn
4 University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana.
Neo
N
Moshashane
5 Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
Dvora
D
Joseph Davey
1 David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Kaitlin
K
Arena
4 University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana.|6 Department of Medicine, Botswana-University of Pennsylvania Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana.
Doreen
D
Ramogola-Masire
7 Princess Marina Hospital, Gaborone, Botswana.
Ponatshego
P
Gaolebale
4 University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana.|6 Department of Medicine, Botswana-University of Pennsylvania Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana.|8 Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (WRHI), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.|9 EGA Institute for Women's Health/Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK.
Chelsea
C
Morroni
1 David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.|3 UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Jeffrey D
JD
Klausner
D000328:Adult; D001902:Botswana / Q000453:epidemiology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis; D016358:Contact Tracing / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D037841:Pregnant People; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis; D055815:Young Adult
Botswana; Sexually transmitted infections; partner notification; pregnant women; sexually transmitted infection treatment