Evidence that Receiving Public Health HIV Partner Counseling and Referral Services (PCRS) Increases Successful Partner Notification

Background:
Few controlled data exist to support the efficacy of HIV PCRS programs.

Objective:
To determine whether people with HIV who have received public health PCRS are more likely to report notifying sex partners than people who did not receive PCRS.

Method:
In 2006, we conducted an anonymous, self-administered survey of randomly selected persons with HIV receiving medical care in the largest HIV clinic in Seattle, WA.

Result:
A total of 199 (96%) of 208 people offered study participation completed a useable survey, of whom 168 (84%) remembered whether they had received PCRS from public health staff and responded to a question about partner notification. The population included 24 (14%) women, 3 (2%) transgendered persons, and 141 (84%) men; 117 (83%) of the 141 men were MSM or bisexual men. Ninety-five (56%) of the 168 respondents reported that they received PCRS, and 98 (58%) reported that they had notified at least one sex partner after being HIV diagnosed. People who received PCRS were significantly more likely to report notifying at least one partner (66% vs. 48%, p=.02), and reported notifying more partners overall (p=0.05, Wilcoxin test). Compared to persons who did not receive PCRS, persons who received PCRS more often reported that one of their partners tested HIV positive following their own HIV diagnosis, though this difference was not statistically significant (14% vs. 8%, p=.29). Notifying at least one partner was also significantly associated with higher income, but not with age at time of HIV diagnosis, year of HIV diagnosis, gender, sexual orientation, or educational level.

Conclusion:
People who receive PCRS are more likely to report notifying sex partners than people who do not receive PCRS.

Implications:
These findings support placing greater emphasis on assuring that all persons with newly diagnosed HIV receive PCRS.