The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #39057

Haven B. Battles, PhD¹, Susan M Gieryic, MSW¹, James M. Holmes, MPH², Shu-Yin John Leung, MA¹, James M. Tesoriero, PhD¹, and Chris Nemeth, MA³. (1) Office of Program Evaluation and Research, New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute, Riverview Center, 150 Broadway 5/F, Menands, NY 12204, 518-402-6814, hbb01@health.state.ny.us, (2) Columbia School of Public Health, Consultant, 230 West 13th St., New York, NY 10011, (3) Bureau of HIV/AIDS Epidemiology, New York State Department of Health, Rm 717 Corning Tower, Albany, NY 12237

In June, 2000, New York became the first state to combine partner notification (PN) regulations with HIV reporting. The law requires that health care providers report known contacts of newly infected individuals and attempt to elicit other sex and needle sharing partners to increase the number of partners being notified of their exposure risk. Patients are not required to disclose partner information. Some expressed concern that combining HIV reporting with PN regulations might lead consumers to incorrectly believe that PN is mandatory. The current study assessed consumer awareness levels of the PN regulations and measured attitudes and behaviors surrounding PN. This research incorporates three sets of data: 1) focus groups with HIV-positive individuals and HIV service providers, 2) the HIV Testing Attitudes and Practices Survey, and 3) New York State’s HIV reporting system. Preliminary results indicate that consumers tested for HIV recently have greater knowledge of the law than those who were not. Consumer focus group data suggest a preference toward self-notification of current sexual partners, while assisted notification is preferred for past partners. HIV reporting system data indicate that fewer partner notifications were deferred due to domestic violence than the literature had suggested. Provider focus group data indicate that this may be due to provider and/or consumer reluctance to report a partner’s name if there is a risk for violence, despite the fact that notifications are deferred in such circumstances. Implications for program development, including provider education, will be discussed. Limitations surrounding the generalizability of findings will be discussed.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in the session will be able to

• Identify concerns of high-risk grouips and HIV positive individuals regarding confidentiality between consumers and health professionals,
• Identify the options available for partner notification an in which circumstances the various options are preferred by consumers,
• Recognize the extent ot which the risk for intimate partner violence may be a barrier to notifying partners,
• Gain a broader view of partner notification in New York State by integrating data from the HIV Testing Attitudes and Practices Survey, focus groups and NYS's HIV reporting system.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Policy/Policy Development

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: I am employed by the New York State Department of Health, whose program is being discussed in this paper.