Factors Associated with Notification and Testing among Partners of HIV Positive Index Clients in Kigali City

Abstract

Introduction: Notification of sexual partners of persons diagnosed HIV infection is a vital tool in identifying those at risk of infection. This study assessed determinants of being notified and case-finding effectiveness among sexual partners of HIV infected individuals in Rwanda. 

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Kigali city, Rwanda analyzing data of individuals newly diagnosed HIV infection who listed their sexual partners for referral to HIV test services (HTS) through one of three methods of partner notification: passive referral, contract referral, or provider referral. Data were extracted from the national HIV case-based surveillance dataset. 

Results: In this study, 2104 index patients named 3791 sexual partners and provided locator information for 2689 partners. Among successfully notified partners, 2402 returned for HIV counseling and testing; among them, 267/2409 were spouses (aOR: 1.43; 95% CI; 1.11–1.82). Index clients with 2-5 partners were 2.53 times more likely (95%CI 1.60-3.99) to successfully notify their sexual partners; also, partners that had been listed as spouses of index clients were 2.1 imes more likely to get notified of their exposure to HIV than any other partners (95%CI; 1.54-2.89) (p=0.000). 

Conclusion: This study's findings support the notion that partner notification among index clients is associated with the relation between HIV positive patients and their partners, marital status, number of sexual partners, and referral method used.