Health Worker Perspectives on Barriers and Facilitators of Assisted Partner Notification for HIV for Refugees and Ugandan Nationals: A Mixed Methods Study in West Nile Uganda
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Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AIDS and Behavior
Abstract
Assisted partner notification (APN) is recommended by the World Health Organization to notify sexual partners of HIV
exposure. Since 2018, APN has been offered in Uganda to Ugandan nationals and refugees. Distinct challenges faced by
individuals in refugee settlements may influence APN utilization and effectiveness. To explore APN barriers and facilitators,
we extracted index client and sexual partner data from APN registers at 11 health centers providing care to refugees
and Ugandan nationals in West Nile Uganda and conducted qualitative interviews with health workers (N = 32). Since APN
started, 882 index clients participated in APN identifying 1126 sexual partners. Following notification, 95% (1025/1126) of
partners tested for HIV; 22% (230/1025) were diagnosed with HIV with 14% (139/1025) of tested partners newly diagnosed.
Fear of stigma and disclosure-related violence limit APN utilization and effectiveness. Prospective research involving index
clients and sexual partners is needed to facilitate safe APN optimization in refugee settlements.
Description
Keywords
HIV, Partner notification, Mixed methods, Refugee
Citation
Klabbers, R. E., Muwonge, T. R., Ayikobua, E., Izizinga, D., Bassett, I. V., Kambugu, A., ... & O’Laughlin, K. N. (2021). Health worker perspectives on barriers and facilitators of assisted partner notification for HIV for refugees and ugandan nationals: A mixed methods study in West Nile Uganda. AIDS and Behavior, 25, 3206-3222. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-021-03265-1