Resumen
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 ªVery Likelyº or ªSomewhat Likelyº 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.