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Opportunities for Improving Partner Notification for HIV: Results from a Community-Based Participatory Research Study

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Abstract

To identify actionable opportunities for improving Partner Notification (PN) for HIV among men who have sex with men (MSM), we characterized the perspectives and experiences of PN among Medical Case Managers (case managers), Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS), and MSM. In partnership with an AIDS service organization and the Connecticut State Health Department, we conducted a focus group of case managers (n = 14) and in-depth interviews with DIS (n = 7) and MSM (n = 24). We found differences between MSM’s and providers’ (case managers and DIS) perspectives regarding (1) determinants of sexual risk behaviors; (2) considerations impacting HIV disclosure; and (3) barriers to trusting relationships between MSM and providers. Factors impacting MSM perspectives on PN were incompletely appreciated by both case managers and DIS. PN may be improved through improving provider understanding of the complexities for MSM regarding sexual risk behaviors and disclosure and transcending barriers to trusting relationships between MSM and providers.

Resumen

Para identificar los posibles oportunidades de mejora de Notificación (PN) de VIH entre los hombres que tienen sexo con hombres (HSH), se caracterizan las perspectivas y experiencias de la NP entre médicos encargados de caso (caso), especialistas en Intervención de Enfermedades (DIS), así como los HSH. En colaboración con una organización de servicios relacionados con el SIDA y el estado de Connecticut Departamento de Salud, se realizó una sesión de grupo de administradores de casos (n = 14) y de entrevistas en profundidad a DIS (n = 7) y HSH (n = 24). Se han encontrado diferencias entre HSH y de los proveedores de los encargados del caso y (DIS) las perspectivas en lo que se refiere a 1) factores determinantes de comportamientos sexuales de alto riesgo; 2) consideraciones que afectan EL VIH divulgación; y 3) las barreras de relaciones de confianza entre HSH y proveedores. Los factores que afectan las perspectivas de HSH PN fueron muy apreciada tanto por los administradores de casos y DIS. PN puede ser mejorado a través de la mejora médica comprensión de las complejidades para los HSH en relación con conductas sexuales de riesgo y la divulgación y trasciende las barreras de relaciones de confianza entre HSH y los proveedores.

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Acknowledgments

This work was generously supported by the Yale School of Medicine, the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation, the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Foundation, and the United States Department of Veteran Affairs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, PO Box 208025, New Haven, CT, 06520-8088, USA

    E. Jennifer Edelman

  2. Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

    E. Jennifer Edelman & Christopher A. Cole

  3. AIDS Project New Haven, New Haven, CT, USA

    Christopher A. Cole & Nicholas Boshnack

  4. STD Control Program, Connecticut State Department of Public Health, Hartford, CT, USA

    Wanda Richardson & Heidi Jenkins

  5. Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    Marjorie S. Rosenthal

  6. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    Marjorie S. Rosenthal

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  1. E. Jennifer Edelman
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  2. Christopher A. Cole
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  6. Marjorie S. Rosenthal
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Correspondence to E. Jennifer Edelman.

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Edelman, E.J., Cole, C.A., Richardson, W. et al. Opportunities for Improving Partner Notification for HIV: Results from a Community-Based Participatory Research Study. AIDS Behav 18, 1888–1897 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-013-0692-9

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