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Changes in partnerships and HIV risk behaviors after partner notification
Tamara Hoxworth1, Nancy E Spencer, Thomas A Peterman
1Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver, Colorado, USA.
Background And Objective:
Few studies have examined the effect of partner notification (PN) on behavior change and partnerships. This study investigated both.
Goal:
The goal was to examine the effect of PN on sexual behaviors and partnership dissolution and formation. STUDY DESIGN Subjects included HIV-positive persons interviewed to identify partners for notification, partners notified of exposure, and HIV-negative persons receiving HIV counseling and testing (controls). Subjects were interviewed about behaviors and relationships at baseline and at 3- and 6-month visits. Partnerships in which both subject and partner received PN were compared to partnerships in which only the subject received PN and to control partnerships.
Results:
Partnerships where both persons received PN were less likely to break up or acquire new partners and more likely to use condoms at follow-up.
Conclusion:
PN did not increase partnership dissolution or formation and was associated with higher condom use, suggesting the value of PN in HIV prevention.