HIV Partner Notification Is Effective and Feasible in Sub-Saharan Africa: Opportunities for HIV Treatment and Prevention

• DOI: 10.1097/qai.0b013e318202bf7d
• Publication Date: 2011-03-11T04:59:47Z
• Authors: Lillian B Brown; William C Miller; Gift Kamanga; Naomi Nyirenda; Pearson Mmodzi; Audrey Pettifor; Rosalie C Dominik; Jay S Kaufman; Clement Mapanje; Francis Martinson; Myron S Cohen; Irving F Hoffman
• Keywords: Partner notification

Sexual partners of persons with newly diagnosed HIV infection require counseling, testing and, if necessary, evaluation for therapy. However, many African countries do not have a standardized protocol partner notification, and the effectiveness notification has been evaluated in developing .Individuals presenting to sexually transmitted clinics Lilongwe, Malawi, were randomized 1 3 methods notification: passive referral, contract or provider referral. The referral group was responsible notifying their themselves. given seven days notify partners, after which health care contacted who had reported counseling testing. In group, notified directly.Two hundred forty-five index patients named 302 sexual provided locator information 252. Among locatable 107 returned testing; 20 82 [24%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 15% 34%] arm, 45 88 (51%; CI: 41% 62%) 42 40% arm (P < 0.001). returning (n = 107), 67 (64%) infected 54 (81%) diagnosed.This study provides first evidence sub-Saharan Africa. Active feasible, acceptable, effective among infections clinic patients. Partner will increase early facilitate risk reduction high-risk uninfected partners.