Using partner notification to address curable sexually transmitted infections in a high HIV prevalence context: a qualitative study about partner notification in Botswana

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dc.contributor.authorWynn, Adriane
dc.contributor.authorMoucheraud, Corrina
dc.contributor.authorMoshashane, Neo
dc.contributor.authorOfforjebe, Ogechukwu A
dc.contributor.authorRamogola-Masire, Doreen
dc.contributor.authorKlausner, Jeffrey D
dc.contributor.authorMorroni, Chelsea
dc.date.accessioned2019-06-26T12:54:13Z
dc.date.available2019-06-26T12:54:13Z
dc.date.issued2019-05-29
dc.date.updated2019-06-02T06:17:06Z
dc.description.abstractBackground Partner notification is an essential component of sexually transmitted infection (STI) management. The process involves identifying exposed sex partner(s), notifying these partner(s) about their exposure to a curable STI, and offering counselling and treatment for the STI as a part of syndromic management or after results from an STI test. When implemented effectively, partner notification services can prevent the index patient from being reinfected with a curable STI from an untreated partner, reduce the community burden of curable STIs, and prevent adverse health outcomes in both the index patient and his or her sex partner(s). However, partner notification and treatment rates are often low. This study seeks to explore experiences and preferences related to partner notification and treatment for curable STIs among pregnant women receiving care in an antenatal clinic with integrated HIV and curable STI testing. Results are intended to inform efforts to improve partner notification and treatment rates in Southern Africa. Methods We conducted qualitative interviews among women diagnosed with Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), and/or Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) infection while seeking antenatal care in Gaborone, Botswana. Semi-structured interviews were used to obtain women’s knowledge about STIs and their experiences and preferences regarding partner notification. Results Fifteen women agreed to participate in the study. The majority of women had never heard of CT, NG, or TV infections prior to testing. Thirteen out of 15 participants had notified partners about the STI diagnosis. The majority of notified partners received some treatment; however, partner treatment was often delayed. Most women expressed a preference for accompanying partners to the clinic for treatment. Experiences and preferences did not differ by HIV infection status. Conclusions The integration of STI, HIV, and antenatal care services may have contributed to most women’s willingness to notify partners. However, logistical barriers to partner treatment remained. More research is needed to identify effective and appropriate strategies for scaling-up partner notification services in order to improve rates of partners successfully contacted and treated, reduce rates of STI reinfection during pregnancy, and ultimately reduce adverse maternal and infant outcomes attributable to antenatal STIs.
dc.identifier.apacitationWynn, A., Moucheraud, C., Moshashane, N., Offorjebe, O. A., Ramogola-Masire, D., Klausner, J. D., & Morroni, C. (2019). Using partner notification to address curable sexually transmitted infections in a high HIV prevalence context: a qualitative study about partner notification in Botswana. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30274en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationWynn, Adriane, Corrina Moucheraud, Neo Moshashane, Ogechukwu A Offorjebe, Doreen Ramogola-Masire, Jeffrey D Klausner, and Chelsea Morroni "Using partner notification to address curable sexually transmitted infections in a high HIV prevalence context: a qualitative study about partner notification in Botswana." (2019) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30274en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationBMC Public Health. 2019 May 29;19(Suppl 1):606
dc.identifier.ris TY - AU - Wynn, Adriane AU - Moucheraud, Corrina AU - Moshashane, Neo AU - Offorjebe, Ogechukwu A AU - Ramogola-Masire, Doreen AU - Klausner, Jeffrey D AU - Morroni, Chelsea AB - Background Partner notification is an essential component of sexually transmitted infection (STI) management. The process involves identifying exposed sex partner(s), notifying these partner(s) about their exposure to a curable STI, and offering counselling and treatment for the STI as a part of syndromic management or after results from an STI test. When implemented effectively, partner notification services can prevent the index patient from being reinfected with a curable STI from an untreated partner, reduce the community burden of curable STIs, and prevent adverse health outcomes in both the index patient and his or her sex partner(s). However, partner notification and treatment rates are often low. This study seeks to explore experiences and preferences related to partner notification and treatment for curable STIs among pregnant women receiving care in an antenatal clinic with integrated HIV and curable STI testing. Results are intended to inform efforts to improve partner notification and treatment rates in Southern Africa. Methods We conducted qualitative interviews among women diagnosed with Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), and/or Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) infection while seeking antenatal care in Gaborone, Botswana. Semi-structured interviews were used to obtain women’s knowledge about STIs and their experiences and preferences regarding partner notification. Results Fifteen women agreed to participate in the study. The majority of women had never heard of CT, NG, or TV infections prior to testing. Thirteen out of 15 participants had notified partners about the STI diagnosis. The majority of notified partners received some treatment; however, partner treatment was often delayed. Most women expressed a preference for accompanying partners to the clinic for treatment. Experiences and preferences did not differ by HIV infection status. Conclusions The integration of STI, HIV, and antenatal care services may have contributed to most women’s willingness to notify partners. However, logistical barriers to partner treatment remained. More research is needed to identify effective and appropriate strategies for scaling-up partner notification services in order to improve rates of partners successfully contacted and treated, reduce rates of STI reinfection during pregnancy, and ultimately reduce adverse maternal and infant outcomes attributable to antenatal STIs. DA - 2019-05-29 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Partner notification KW - Treatment KW - Sexually transmitted infections KW - Pregnant women KW - Chlamydia trachomatis KW - Neisseria gonorrhoeae KW - Trichomonas vaginalis KW - Southern Africa KW - HIV LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2019 T1 - Using partner notification to address curable sexually transmitted infections in a high HIV prevalence context: a qualitative study about partner notification in Botswana TI - Using partner notification to address curable sexually transmitted infections in a high HIV prevalence context: a qualitative study about partner notification in Botswana UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30274 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-6813-2
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/30274
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationWynn A, Moucheraud C, Moshashane N, Offorjebe OA, Ramogola-Masire D, Klausner JD, et al. Using partner notification to address curable sexually transmitted infections in a high HIV prevalence context: a qualitative study about partner notification in Botswana. 2019; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30274.en_ZA
dc.language.rfc3066en
dc.rights.holderThe Author(s).
dc.subjectPartner notification
dc.subjectTreatment
dc.subjectSexually transmitted infections
dc.subjectPregnant women
dc.subjectChlamydia trachomatis
dc.subjectNeisseria gonorrhoeae
dc.subjectTrichomonas vaginalis
dc.subjectSouthern Africa
dc.subjectHIV
dc.titleUsing partner notification to address curable sexually transmitted infections in a high HIV prevalence context: a qualitative study about partner notification in Botswana
dc.typeJournal Article
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