A Systematic Review of HIV Partner Counseling and Referral Services: Client and Provider Attitudes, Preferences, Practices, and Experiences

The researchers undertook a systematic, qualitative review to understand client and provider attitudes, experiences and practices regarding HIV partner notification in the United States in order to help determine future research and program needs. They sought to synthesize the literature on these topics and to identify potential negative effects of HIV partner notification.

The authors found clients were willing to self-notify their partners and to participate in notification by providers. Few reported negative effects. While most health care providers were in favor of HIV partner notification, they did not consistently refer their index clients to HIV partner notification programs.

In conclusion, the authors called for additional research "to assess the potential risks of notifying partners and to identify effective techniques to improve client and provider participation." "Considering that clients have positive attitudes toward self- and provider referral, local HIV prevention programs need to ensure that all HIV-positive clients are offered partner notification services," they wrote.

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