HIV-infected men's practices in notifying past sexual partners of infection risk

The researchers studied the self-reported practices of men infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Los Angeles concerning notifying past sexual partners of their risk of infection. The sample of 111 men consisted of 87 Hispanics, 14 whites, 9 blacks, and 1 Asian. Ninety-three percent identified themselves as homosexual or bisexual, and 13 percent reported having injected a nonprescription drug. Seventy-five percent had tested HIV seropositive within the previous 8 months. Subjects were asked about notifying sexual partners with whom they had contact in the 12-months before the subject tested HIV seropositive. Of the 111 subjects, 39 (35 percent) reported that they had attempted to inform 1 or more past partners. Of those who attempted, 30 subjects (76.9 percent) reported notifying at least 1 partner. Overall, the 111 subjects reported a total of 926 individual sexual partners during the 12 months; 51 partners (5.5 percent) were informed of their risk by the subjects. A multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that those with the most past sexual partners were least likely to attempt to notify any partner. The same inverse relationship was obtained for actual notification and may stem in part from the greater frequency of nonidentifiable partners among those reporting many encounters. The extent and quality of posttest counseling regarding partner notification was not assessed. However, rates of attempted notification were nonsignificantly higher among those who received private professional counseling, who belonged to a support group, or who received social support from family or friends. The data suggest that without concerted and culturally appropriate counseling, many HIV infected persons do not attempt to notify past sexual partners of their risk.