Sexually transmitted disease partner notification among African-American, adolescent women

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Anna Buchsbaum, Emory University; Maria F. Gallo, Ohio State University; Maura K. Whiteman, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Carrie Cwiak, Emory University; Peggy Goedken, Emory University; Joan Marie Kraft, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Denise Jamieson, Emory University; Melissa Kottke, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2014-12-25
• Publisher: Hindawi Publishing Corporation
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2014 Anna Buchsbaum et al.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/619632
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology
• ISSN: 1064-7449
• Volume: 2014
• Start Page: 619632
• End Page: 619632
• Grant/Funding Information: This study received funding from the Society of Family Planning and the CDC as a Special Interest Project #20 through the Emory Prevention Research Center (Cooperative agreement number U48DP001909-01 Revised) in collaboration with the CDC’s Division of Reproductive Health. The findings and conclusions in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the CDC.
• Keywords: Adult; Sexual Behavior; Female; African Americans; Surveys and Questionnaires; Contact Tracing; Humans; Young Adult; Adolescent; Sexually Transmitted Diseases
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Epidemiology; Sociology, Individual and Family Studies

Abstract

Objective. To better understand preferences and practices regarding partner notification of sexually transmitted infection (STI) among female, African-American adolescents.Methods. Participants completed a questionnaire and STI testing at baseline. Those diagnosed with Chlamydia or gonorrhea were recruited for a follow-up study, involving another questionnaire and repeat STI testing after three months.Results. At baseline, most participants (85.1%) preferred to tell their partner about an STI diagnosis themselves instead of having a health care provider inform him, and 71.0% preferred to bring their partner for clinic treatment instead of giving him pills or a prescription. Two-thirds of participants were classified as having high self-efficacy for partner notification of a positive STI diagnosis. In the multivariable analysis, older participants and those with fewer lifetime sexual partners were more likely to have high self-efficacy. Ninety-three participants (26.6%) had Chlamydia or gonorrhea and, of this subset, 55 participated in the follow-up study. Most adolescents in the follow-up study (76.4%) notified their partner about their infection.Conclusion. Although participants were willing to use most methods of partner notification, most preferred to tell partners themselves and few preferred expedited partner therapy. Traditional methods for partner notification and treatment may not be adequate for all adolescents in this population.