Factors influencing sexual partner referral for sexually transmitted diseases in Uganda

Patient-based partner referral has limited effectiveness. We studied factors associated with sexual partner referral among patients with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) with a view of suggesting remedial action.

To examine the role of psychosocial variables vis-a-vis other variables in predicting sexual partner referral.

A cross-sectional interview survey with 507 patients with STDs at an STD clinic in Kampala, Uganda. Multivariate analyses were used to identify independent predictors of sexual partner referral.

Forty-two percent of the 599 partners elicited were referred. The independent factors that favored sexual partner referral were examined in the laboratory (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20-4.05): psychosocial variables of intention (likelihood of referring the partner) (AOR 4.60, CI 1.58-13.36), self-efficacy (partner referral being easy) (AOR 3.22, CI 1.36-7.66), having a positive attitude toward partner referral (AOR 1.19, CI 1.06-1.33), and previous success in having referred a partner (AOR 9.78, CI 2.90-33.04). Other variables, such as age, sex, marital status, employment, and type of partner, that were significant on univariate analysis were not significant after multivariate analysis.

By providing interventions to change the psychosocial variables, there is a high chance of improving compliance with sexual partner referral.