BACKGROUND: Assisted partner services (aPS) involves notification and HIV testing for sexual partners of persons diagnosed HIV-positive (index clients). Because the impact of aPS is contingent on high acceptance, we assessed characteristics and reasons for nonenrollment among female index clients in an ongoing scale-up project. METHODS: We analyzed data from HIV-positive females offered aPS in 31 facilities from May 2018 to August 2019. We compared sociodemographic characteristics by aPS enrollment (accepted, refused, and ineligible) and used multivariate binomial regression to assess associations between demographics and refusal. RESULTS: Twenty-four thousand four hundred eighteen females received HIV testing and 1050 (4.3%) tested HIV-positive; 839 females enrolled in aPS (80%), 59 refused (6%), and 152 were ineligible (14%). APS uptake did not differ by age, testing history, or testing type (provider initiated vs. client initiated). Females refusing aPS were more likely to have completed secondary school [adjusted relative risk (aRR) 2.03, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13 to 2.82] and be divorced/separated (aRR: 3.09, 95% CI: 1.39 to 6.86) or single (aRR: 2.66, 95% CI: 1.31 to 5.42) compared with married/cohabitating. Reasons for refusing aPS included not feeling emotionally ready (31%) and reporting no sexual partners in past 3 years (22%). Reasons for ineligibility included fear or risk of intimate partner violence (9%), previous HIV diagnosis (9%), or insufficient time for aPS provision (3%). CONCLUSIONS: APS has high acceptability among HIV-positive females regardless of age or testing history. More counseling may be needed to increase uptake among females with higher education and those who are separated/single. Follow-up for females not emotionally ready or who had insufficient time for aPS in their clinic visit can improve coverage.
BACKGROUND: Assisted partner services (aPS) involves notification and HIV testing for sexual partners of persons diagnosed HIV-positive (index clients). Because the impact of aPS is contingent on high acceptance, we assessed characteristics and reasons for nonenrollment among female index clients in an ongoing scale-up project. METHODS: We analyzed data from HIV-positive females offered aPS in 31 facilities from May 2018 to August 2019. We compared sociodemographic characteristics by aPS enrollment (accepted, refused, and ineligible) and used multivariate binomial regression to assess associations between demographics and refusal. RESULTS: Twenty-four thousand four hundred eighteen females received HIV testing and 1050 (4.3%) tested HIV-positive; 839 females enrolled in aPS (80%), 59 refused (6%), and 152 were ineligible (14%). APS uptake did not differ by age, testing history, or testing type (provider initiated vs. client initiated). Females refusing aPS were more likely to have completed secondary school [adjusted relative risk (aRR) 2.03, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13 to 2.82] and be divorced/separated (aRR: 3.09, 95% CI: 1.39 to 6.86) or single (aRR: 2.66, 95% CI: 1.31 to 5.42) compared with married/cohabitating. Reasons for refusing aPS included not feeling emotionally ready (31%) and reporting no sexual partners in past 3 years (22%). Reasons for ineligibility included fear or risk of intimate partner violence (9%), previous HIV diagnosis (9%), or insufficient time for aPS provision (3%). CONCLUSIONS: APS has high acceptability among HIV-positive females regardless of age or testing history. More counseling may be needed to increase uptake among females with higher education and those who are separated/single. Follow-up for females not emotionally ready or who had insufficient time for aPS in their clinic visit can improve coverage.
Authors: Marielle S Goyette; Peter M Mutiti; David Bukusi; Beatrice M Wamuti; Felix A Otieno; Peter Cherutich; Matthew R Golden; Hans Spiegel; Barbra A Richardson; Anne Ngʼangʼa; Carey Farquhar Journal: J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Date: 2018-05-01 Impact factor: 3.731
Authors: Monisha Sharma; Jennifer A Smith; Carey Farquhar; Roger Ying; Peter Cherutich; Matthew Golden; Beatrice Wamuti; David Bukusi; Hans Spiegel; Ruanne V Barnabas Journal: AIDS Date: 2018-01-14 Impact factor: 4.177
Authors: Lillian B Brown; William C Miller; Gift Kamanga; Naomi Nyirenda; Pearson Mmodzi; Audrey Pettifor; Rosalie C Dominik; Jay S Kaufman; Clement Mapanje; Francis Martinson; Myron S Cohen; Irving F Hoffman Journal: J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Date: 2011-04-15 Impact factor: 3.731
Authors: Beatrice M Wamuti; Thomas Welty; Winifred Nambu; Francois T Chimoun; Ray Shields; Matthew R Golden; Carey Farquhar; Pius T Muffih Journal: J Int AIDS Soc Date: 2019-07 Impact factor: 5.396
Authors: Nyikadzino Mahachi; Auxilia Muchedzi; Taurayi A Tafuma; Peter Mawora; Liz Kariuki; Bazghina-Werq Semo; Moses H Bateganya; Tendai Nyagura; Getrude Ncube; Mike B Merrigan; Otto N Chabikuli; Mulamuli Mpofu Journal: J Int AIDS Soc Date: 2019-07 Impact factor: 5.396
Authors: Pius M Tih; Francois Temgbait Chimoun; Eveline Mboh Khan; Emmanuel Nshom; Winifred Nambu; Ray Shields; Beatrice M Wamuti; Matthew R Golden; Thomas Welty Journal: J Int AIDS Soc Date: 2019-07 Impact factor: 5.396
Authors: Beatrice Wamuti; Monisha Sharma; Edward Kariithi; Harison Lagat; George Otieno; Rose Bosire; Sarah Masyuko; Mary Mugambi; Bryan J Weiner; David A Katz; Carey Farquhar; Carol Levin Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2022-01-14 Impact factor: 2.655