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. 2020 Jun 4;15(6):e0232268.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232268. eCollection 2020.

HIV testing uptake and yield among sexual partners of HIV-positive men who have sex with men in Zhejiang Province, China, 2014-2016: A cross-sectional pilot study of a choice-based partner tracing and testing package

Mingyu Luo  1 , Katrina Hann  2 , Guomin Zhang  3 , Xiaohong Pan  1 , Qiaoqin Ma  1 , Jun Jiang  1 , Lin Chen  1 , Shichang Xia  1
Affiliations

HIV testing uptake and yield among sexual partners of HIV-positive men who have sex with men in Zhejiang Province, China, 2014-2016: A cross-sectional pilot study of a choice-based partner tracing and testing package

Mingyu Luo et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: Measures to effectively expand tracing and testing to identify undiagnosed HIV infections are significant for the control of HIV/AIDS epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM). We piloted a choice-based tracing and testing package aimed at improving partner tracing, uptake, and yield of HIV testing for sexual partners of newly diagnosed HIV-positive MSM.

Methods: This package was piloted in the cities of Hangzhou and Ningbo, Zhejiang province, China from June 2014 to June 2016. The package adopted four modes: couples' HIV counseling and testing (CHCT), information assisted partner notification (IAPN), assisted HIV self-testing (HIVST) and patient referral. Data regarding sociodemographic factors and sexual behaviors between HIV-positive MSM and their sexual partners, as well as tracing and testing outcomes of each mode, were collected.

Results: Among 2,495 newly diagnosed HIV-positive MSM, 446(18%) were enrolled as index cases (ICs) through two rounds of contact tracing. The ICs disclosed a total of 4,716 sexual partners, of whom 548 (12%) were reachable. The pilot study resulted in a testing uptake of 87% (478/548), and a yield of 16% (74/478) among sexual partners. The generalized linear mixed model showed that the odds of a reachable sexual partner enrolled via IAPN taking an HIV test were 290% greater than that of a partner traced via CHCT (95% CI: 1.6, 9.3).

Conclusions: A choice-based tracing and testing package can feasibly expand HIV testing uptake and case finding among sexual partners of HIV-positive MSM. IAPN may be an acceptable option to reach sexual partners for whom limited contact information is available.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Cascade of partner tracing and HIV testing package among sexual partners of newly diagnosed HIV positive men who have sex with men June 2014 through June 2016 in Hangzhou and Ningbo, China.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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