Partner Notification of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in Testing Centers

Summary

Since the 2000s, the incidence of bacterial STIs increases, mainly among men who have sex with men but also among heterosexual men and women with multiple sexual partners. A partner notification (PN) approach could break transmission chains and curb STI epidemics. PN brings together a set of interventions to help people diagnosed with STIs to inform their partners, encourage them to get tested, so that they can access treatment or prevention. A PN approach, systematically offered at STI diagnosis, has not yet been implemented in France and needs to be evaluated. In 2018, the Conseil National du Sida (French National AIDS Council) stated in favor of a formalized PN approach, particularly in testing centers, which carry out a large part of STI diagnoses.

The aim of our research project is to build interventions facilitating information, testing and treatment of partners of people diagnosed with STIs in testing centers and sexual health clinics.

Step 1: A cross-sectional study

Primary objective

To describe the PN practices of people diagnosed with an STI in testing centers and sexual health clinics without any intervention

Secondary objectives

* To describe the profiles of people diagnosed with an STI in testing centers or sexual health clinics and therefore likely to receive an intervention to help them notify their partners;
* To describe the profiles of people notified by their partners and who attend testing centers or sexual health clinics for STI testing;
* To describe the notification received by these notified partners and identify the facilitators of testing use following notification.

Step 2: A qualitative study

Objectives

* To evaluate the acceptability of testing center staff for an STI notification program in general and discuss the feasibility of interventions pre-identified by a literature review;
* In a collaborative (researchers and staffs) approach, to adapt these interventions to (1) the testing centers working and (2) the needs of their users identified in the cross-sectional study.

Expected results

This study is the first step in implementation of a PN program as part of a comprehensive management of STI diagnoses in France.

Conditions

• STI
• Hiv

Interventions

OTHER

2 online self-administered questionnaires on

1. Participant profile 2. Spontaneous partner notification practices collected one month after STIs diagnosis

OTHER

2 online self-administered questionnaires on

1. Participant profile 2. Experiences with partner notification and use of STI testing following notification

Sponsors & Collaborators

• ANRS, Emerging Infectious Diseases

  lead OTHER_GOV

Principal Investigators

• Jade Ghosn, Pr · IAME, Inserm UMR1137, Paris and Infectious diseases department, Bichat Hospital, Paris

• Karen Champenois · IAME, Inserm UMR1137, Paris

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-07-12

Primary Completion

2022-12-31

Completion

2022-12-31

Countries

• France

Study Locations