Outcomes and Experiences of Men and Women with Partner Notification for HIV Testing in Tanzania: Results from a Mixed Method Study

Abstract

A growing evidence base supports expansion of partner notification in HIV testing services (HTS) in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2015, a cross-sectional study was conducted in Njombe region, Tanzania, to evaluate partner notification within facility-based HTS. Men and women newly diagnosed with HIV were enrolled as index clients and asked to list current or past sexual partners for referral to HTS. Successful partner referral was 2.5 times more likely among married compared to unmarried index clients and 2.2 times more likely among male compared to female index clients. In qualitative analysis, male as well as female index clients mentioned difficulties notifying past or casual partners, and noted disease symptoms as a motivating factor for HIV testing. Female index clients mentioned gender-specific challenges to successful referral. Women may need additional support to overcome challenges in the partner notification process. In addition to reducing barriers to partner notification specific to women, a programmatic emphasis on social strengths of males in successfully referring partners should be considered.

What is the level of uptake of Partner Notification Services in HIV testing in Selected Health Facilities in Muranga County – Kenya; a retrospective Study

“…However, provider referral approach was the most preferred approach by the index clients. These findings are contrary to a study on outcomes of PNS done in Tanzania where almost all index clients chose passive referral approach (7).…”

“…The strategy was most effective in eliciting male SPs. This is similar to a study done in Tanzania where male index clients were found to be 6.2 times more likely to list more than one sexual partner (7). There were more female index clients than male hence the high rate of male sexual partners' elicitation.…”

“…The study established first time contact acceptance rate of PNS among clients to be higher compared to that of index clients previously identified. This is similar to findings in a study in Tanzania on outcomes and experiences of men and women with partner notification for HIV testing (7). An RCT done in Kenya also showed similar findings where immediate PNS significantly increased partner HIV testing compared to delayed group (10).…”

Assisted partner notification services for patients receiving HIV care and treatment in an HIV clinic in Nairobi, Kenya: a qualitative assessment of barriers and opportunities for scale‐up

“…Almost every barrier mentioned was based on a fear that undergoing aPNS would result in disclosure of the index client's status, either to the partner or to other entities, such as the church. Although aPNS has been associated with very few adverse events when previously studied , the participants’ fear of disclosure was strong and sufficient enough to constitute a basis for the majority of barriers mentioned. As a result, the barriers discussed are not directly related to aPNS procedures, but are rather linked to the overarching fear of disclosure.…”

The power of partners: positively engaging networks of people with HIV in testing, treatment and prevention

“…As a result of this support, implementation of PNS within PEPFAR‐supported programmes has continued to expand. For example, Jhpiego undertook an operational research pilot in Njombe, Tanzania, in 2016 to integrate a free‐choice PNS intervention into health centres which led to successful outcomes at reaching partners .…”