Jordan W C, Tolbert L, Smith R
Department of Internal Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
J Natl Med Assoc. 1998 Sep;90(9):542-6.
Partner notification as a means of contact tracing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons remains controversial. It is argued against by many gay activists, while primary public health officials and leaders in ethnic communities continue to support this as a means of identifying unknown cases. Human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients were interviewed to determine if partner notification could be a useful instrument. Based on interviews, patients at risk of infection through heterosexual contact were able to identify most of their sexual partners; the majority of these patients were women. Twenty-two of 22 women infected heterosexually were able to identify all of their sexual partners. Five of 8 heterosexual men were able to identify all of their sexual partners, but these men were infected through intravenous drug use. Six of 44 homosexual men interviewed were able to make these identifications. Two focus groups of homosexual men who were HIV-positive patients were organized; each was asked one question. Men in group B were asked if they could identify HIV-positive persons whom they suspected were not in a treatment program. Men in group A were asked if they they thought they knew HIV-positive persons still practicing unsafe sex. Thirteen of the 14 patients in group A were able to identify 30 persons they felt were still practicing unsafe sex; 17 of 30 tested HIV-positive and 9 were unaware of their status. The 14 patients in group B identified 15 persons they felt were HIV-positive; 11 were found to be HIV-positive and 8 were unaware of their status. These findings suggest that partner notification definitely has a role in heterosexual contact tracing, and focused intervention is a more cost-effective approach to early intervention.
作为追踪人类免疫缺陷病毒（HIV）感染者的一种方式，性伴通知仍然存在争议。许多同性恋活动人士对此表示反对，而主要的公共卫生官员和少数族裔社区的领导人则继续支持将其作为识别未知病例的一种方式。对HIV阳性患者进行了访谈，以确定性伴通知是否可能是一种有用的手段。根据访谈，通过异性接触有感染风险的患者能够识别出他们的大多数性伴侣；这些患者大多数是女性。22名通过异性传播感染的女性中有22名能够识别出她们所有的性伴侣。8名异性恋男性中有5名能够识别出他们所有的性伴侣，但这些男性是通过静脉注射吸毒感染的。接受访谈的44名同性恋男性中有6名能够进行这些识别。组织了两个由HIV阳性患者组成的同性恋男性焦点小组；每个小组被问了一个问题。B组的男性被问及是否能够识别出他们怀疑未接受治疗的HIV阳性者。A组的男性被问及他们是否认为自己认识仍在进行不安全性行为的HIV阳性者。A组的14名患者中有13名能够识别出30名他们认为仍在进行不安全性行为的人；其中30人中有17人检测出HIV阳性，9人不知道自己的感染状况。B组的14名患者识别出15名他们认为是HIV阳性的人；其中11人被发现HIV阳性，8人不知道自己的感染状况。这些发现表明，性伴通知在异性接触追踪中肯定有作用，而有针对性的干预是早期干预更具成本效益的方法。
