STI/HIV test result disclosure between female sex workers and their primary, non-commercial male partners in two Mexico-US border cities: a prospective study

Factors influencing sexually transmissible infection disclosure to male partners by HIV-positive pregnant women in Pretoria townships, South Africa: a qualitative study

Background Sexually transmissible infections (STI) may increase the risk of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV. However, diagnostic testing and targeted treatment of STI (STI-TT) during pregnancy is not standard care in South Africa.

METHODS

A qualitative study was nested in a STI-TT intervention to investigate motivating and enabling factors associated with STI test results disclosure to sexual partners. A semi-structured interview protocol covered partner communication, HIV and STI disclosure, financial security and relationships dynamics. Interviews were conducted in participants' preferred language, audio-recorded, transcribed into English and analysed using a constant comparison approach. The study was conducted in two townships in Pretoria, South Africa.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight HIV-positive pregnant women were interviewed. Based on the interviews, two disclosure experiences for women were identified - those with vulnerable experiences and those with self-enabling experiences within their partnerships. Vulnerable women discussed intimate partner violence (IPV) and fear of relationship dissolution as factors influencing their test result disclosure. Self-enabled women discussed their ability to talk with their partners about STI and HIV infections and the influence of multiple concurrent partnerships in the acquisition of HIV/STIs. Both groups of women were concerned about men's health behaviours, and all cited the health and development of their unborn child as a key motivator for test result disclosure.

CONCLUSIONS

Improved counselling and support for pregnant women to disclose their STI test results to their partners may improve the impact of STI diagnostic testing during pregnancy by improving partner treatment uptake and thus reducing the risk of re-infection.

The role of trust and health literacy in nurse-delivered point-of-care STI testing for pregnant women living with HIV, Tshwane District, South Africa

Background

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) during pregnancy result in neonatal morbidity and mortality, and may increase mother-to-child-transmission of HIV. Yet the World Health Organization’s current syndromic management guidelines for STIs leaves most pregnant women undiagnosed and untreated. Point-of-care (POC) diagnostic tests for STIs can drastically improve detection and treatment. Though acceptable and feasible, poor medication adherence and re-infection due to lack of partner treatment threaten the programmatic effectiveness of POC diagnostic programmes.

Methods

To engender patient-provider trust, and improve medication adherence and disclosure of STI status to sexual partners, we trained study nurses in compassionate care, good clinical practices and motivational interviewing. Using qualitative methods, we explored the role patient-provider communications may play in supporting treatment adherence and STI disclosure to sexual partners. Nurses were provided training in motivational interviewing, compassionate care and good clinical practices. Participants were interviewed using a semi-structured protocol, with domains including STI testing experience, patient-provider communication, and HIV and STI disclosure. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analyzed using a constant comparison approach.

Results

Twenty-eight participants treated for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Trichomonas vaginalis (TV), and/or Neisseria gonorrhea (NG) were interviewed. Participants described strong communications and trusting relationships with nurses trained in patient-centered care training and implementing POC STI diagnostic testing. However, women described a delayed trust in treatment until their symptoms resolved. Women expressed a limited recall of their exact diagnosis, which impacted their ability to fully disclose their STI status to sexual partners.

Conclusions

We recommend implementing patient health literacy programmes as part of POC services to support women in remembering and disclosing their specific STI diagnosis to sexual partners, which may facilitate partner treatment uptake and thus decrease the risk of re-infection.

Anticipated Notification of Sexual Partners following STD Diagnosis among Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transgender Women in Lima, Peru: A Mixed Methods Analysis

BACKGROUND

New strategies to support partner notification (PN) are critical for STD control and require detailed understanding of how specific individual and partnership characteristics guide notification decisions.

METHODS

From 2011 to 2012, 397 MSM and TW recently diagnosed with HIV, syphilis, or another STD completed a survey on anticipated notification of recent sexual partners and associated factors. Qualitative interviews were conducted with a subset of participants to provide further depth to quantitative findings. Prevalence ratios and generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were used to analyze participant- and partner-level factors associated with anticipated PN.

RESULTS

Among all partners reported, 52.5% were described as "Very Likely" or "Somewhat Likely" to be notified. Anticipated notification was more likely for main partners than casual (adjusted Prevalence Ratio [aPR], 95% CI: 0.63, 0.54-0.75) or commercial (aPR, 95% CI: 0.44, 0.31-0.62) partners. Other factors associated with likely notification included perception of the partner as an STD source (aPR, 95% CI: 1.27, 1.10-1.48) and anticipated future sexual contact with the partner (aPR, 95% CI: 1.30, 1.11-1.52). An HIV diagnosis was associated with a lower likelihood of notification than non-HIV STDs (aPR: 0.68, 0.55-0.86). Qualitative discussion of the barriers and incentives to PN reflected a similar differentiation of anticipated notification according to partnership type and type of HIV/STD diagnosis.

DISCUSSION

Detailed attention to how partnership characteristics guide notification outcomes is essential to the development of new PN strategies. By accurately and thoroughly assessing the diversity of partnership interactions among individuals with HIV/STD, new notification techniques can be tailored to partner-specific circumstances.