Partner acceptance of health department notification of HIV exposure, South Carolina
J. L. Jones, R. F. Wykoff, S. L. Hollis, S. T. Longshore, W. B. Gamble Jr and R. A. Gunn
Division of Field Services, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Ga.
To determine the acceptability of health department notification of sex and
needle-sharing partners of persons infected with human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV), we administered an anonymous questionnaire to partners
notified of their exposure to HIV during the previous 2 years. Of the 202
partners notified, 132 (65%) were locatable and completed the
questionnaire. Only 12 (9%) thought they may have been exposed to HIV
before health department notification. When the 132 partners were asked if
they thought the health department did the right thing in telling them
about their exposure, 87% responded "yes;" when asked if the health
department should keep notifying persons exposed to HIV, 92% responded
"yes." Responses were similar for homosexual-bisexual men, heterosexuals,
and intravenous drug users; men and women; and whites and blacks. We
conclude that health department notification is acceptable to persons
exposed to HIV in this rural South Carolina district.