Open AccessPartner notification and treatment outcomes among South African adolescents and young adults diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection via laboratory-based screening
Author(s) -
Pooja Chitneni,
Mags Beksinska,
Janan Dietrich,
Manjeetha Jaggernath,
Kalysha Closson,
Patricia Smith,
David A. Lewis,
Lynn T. Matthews,
Jenni Smit,
Thumbi Ndung’u,
Mark A. Brockman,
Glenda Gray,
Angela Kaida
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of std and aids
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.673
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1758-1052
pISSN - 0956-4624
DOI - 10.1177/0956462420915395
Subject(s) - medicine , partner notification , chlamydia trachomatis , contact tracing , mycoplasma genitalium , gonorrhea , chlamydia , family medicine , young adult , trichomonas vaginalis , cohort , gynecology , obstetrics , syphilis , immunology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , infectious disease (medical specialty) , disease , covid-19
Partner notification and treatment are essential components of sexually transmitted infection (STI) management, but little is known about such practices among adolescents and young adults. Using data from a prospective cohort study (AYAZAZI) of youth aged 16-24 years in Durban, South Africa, we assessed the STI care cascade across participant diagnosis, STI treatment, partner notification, and partner treatment; index recurrent STI and associated factors; and reasons for not notifying partner of STI. Participants completed laboratory-based STI screening ( Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae , Mycoplasma genitalium , Trichomonas vaginalis ) at enrollment and at 12 months. Of the 37/216 participants with STI (17%), 27/37 (73%) were women and 10/37 (27%) were men. Median age was 19 years (IQR: 18-20). Of the participants with STI, 23/37 (62%) completed a Treatment and Partner Tracing Survey within 6 months of diagnosis. All survey participants reported completing STI treatment (100%), 17/23 (74%) notified a partner, and 6/23 (35%) reported partner treatment. Overall, 4/23 (11%) participants had 12-month recurrent C. trachomatis infection, with no association with partner notification or treatment. Stigma and lack of STI knowledge were reasons for not notifying partner of STI. STI partner notification and treatment is a challenge among youth. Novel strategies are needed to overcome barriers along the STI care cascade.