Notification of the sex and needle-sharing partners of individuals with human immunodeficiency virus in rural South Carolina: 30-month experience

Article Abstract:

Public health efforts to control the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) usually includes identifying, locating, testing, and treating exposed contacts of individuals who test positive for STDs. The control of infection by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS, is no exception. With regard to HIV, there are many arguments for and against partner notification. However, there have been relatively few studies addressing the effectiveness of the notification programs that have been implemented. The present paper assesses a partner notification and education program that was implemented in a rural health district in South Carolina. A total of 42 HIV-positive persons were identified during the 30-month study period. Notification of their sex and needle-sharing partners resulted in identification of 49 more HIV-positive persons of the 290 contacts who were tested. Of the 485 reported partners, these 290 contacts were residents of the health district; they were notified and offered testing for HIV infection. During the study period, presumably due at least in part to education, the average number of sex partners per six-month period decreased from 5.6 to 1.1 for the HIV-positive persons, and from 4.0 to 2.0 for HIV-negative contacts. It is suggested that a partner notification program such as this can successfully provide testing and education to a high-risk population, and facilitate a reduction in risk behavior and the transmission of HIV. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Testing, Prevention, Demographic aspects, HIV infection, HIV infections, HIV patients, Epidemiology

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Partner acceptance of health department notification of HIV exposure, South Carolina

Article Abstract:

A survey was used to evaluate the attitudes of sexual or needle-sharing partners of HIV-infected persons who were notified by the health department of the possibility that they may have been infected with the virus that causes AIDS. Questionnaires were sent to a group of 202 partners who had been previously notified by the health department in a rural South Carolina district. Responses were received from 132 individuals. Eighty-seven percent of those returning the surveys agreed that the health department had properly informed them, and 92 percent believed that this practice should be continued in the future. There were no statistical differences in attitudes among the responders in regard to whether they were homosexual, bisexual, heterosexual, drug-users, male, female, black or white. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Ethical aspects, Communicable diseases, AIDS patients, Medical records, Access control, Confidential communications, Medical ethics, Disease reporting, Physician-patient privilege

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The changing paradigm of sexually transmitted disease control in the era of managed health care

Article Abstract:

Managed care organizations (MCOs) can play an important role in preventing sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). In the past, STDs were usually treated at clinics and physicians' offices but there was not always communication between the two. Because MCOs coordinate the care of entire communities, they can serve as the coordination point of STD care. They also have information systems that can assist in this process. In some communities, STD control has led to a drop in HIV transmission. Countries such as Sweden and Canada show that this approach can work.

Sexually transmitted diseases, Analysis, Innovations, Services, Managed care plans (Medical care)

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