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

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

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • China / epidemiology
  • Choice Behavior*
  • Contact Tracing / statistics & numerical data*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Disclosure
  • HIV Infections / diagnosis*
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections / transmission
  • Homosexuality, Male*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Screening / psychology
  • Mass Screening / statistics & numerical data*
  • Pilot Projects
  • Sexual Partners*
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

This study was supported by Key Project on Social Development among S&T Major Project of Zhejiang Province, China (2013C03047-1), Zhejiang Provincial Medicine Science and Technology Plan (2015PYA004), National Science and Technology Major Project of China (2017ZX10201101), The Training Project of Young Scientific and Technological Innovative Talents of Zhejiang Provincial Center of Disease Control and Prevention. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.