Partner Services in Louisiana - Provider Referral Internet-Based Notifications Elicited Via Community-Based Organizations and Disease Intervention Specialists

Background:  In Guidelines for State, County and Local Health Departments, CDC strongly encourages use of the Internet as a means of partner notification for STD and HIV control efforts.  Since 2009, the Centers for Disease Control required Comprehensive STD Prevention System grantees to develop and implement IPS protocols.

Objectives:  To discuss the importance of Internet-based Partner Notifications (IPN) for STDs other than HIV and Syphilis.

Methods:  After two years of program planning between the STD and HIV/AIDS Programs, statewide implementation of IPS began in December 2009 confidentially offering online Partner Services to HIV and syphilis index patients.   In April 2010, Chlamydia and gonorrhea referrals for IPN were accepted from a sole Community Based Organization (CBO) in Monroe, LA.

Results:  From 12/28/2009 to 4/7/2011, 75 partners were referred through IPN.  Sexual relationships were male-male sexual partnerships in 94.7% of cases and male-female partnerships in 5.3%. Nearly 67% of IPS requests originated in the Monroe area; 11 came from DIS and 39 from a CBO.  Of the CBO referrals, 14 partners (35.8%) agreed to seek or already sought medical testing and/or treatment.

Conclusions:  Although IPN is a relatively new means of contacting high-risk individuals for HIV/STD screening and care, it has produced encouraging successes during its relatively short existence.

Implications for Programs, Policy, and Research:  Louisiana’s experience in implementing IPN shows this can be a valuable tool to complement traditional DIS activities.