Partner Notification Strategies for HIV/STI Control in Peru

描述（由申请人提供）：拟议研究的目标是评估伴侣管理和性传播感染控制的新策略，作为减少拉丁美洲男男性行为者（MSM）中HIV-1传播的方法。秘鲁的艾滋病毒流行病仍然集中在男男性行为者这一核心风险群体中。性传播感染和再感染是艾滋病毒在秘鲁男男性行为者中继续流行的关键。制定更好的伴侣通知和治疗战略将减少性传播感染的发病率和流行率，并最终减少这一人群中艾滋病毒感染的发病率。具体目标1：探讨行为，社会文化和临床方面的STI传播的影响，合作伙伴之间的通知态度和做法秘鲁城市男男性接触者。具体目标1a.制定一项定量调查评估的行为，社会文化和生物医学因素影响合作伙伴之间的通知决定秘鲁。具体目标1b。使用定量的方法来评估行为，社会文化和生物医学因素的影响，合作伙伴之间的通知决定秘鲁。具体目标二：评估互联网和转介卡为基础的合作伙伴通知工具，以改善合作伙伴的通知结果之间的男男性行为者在秘鲁利马。干预措施是针对秘鲁社会和流行病学环境的关键方面而制定的，包括互联网使用率高、男男性行为者之间社区形成不发达以及男男性行为者性网络内艾滋病毒和性传播感染的循环模式。因此，拟议的研究操纵现有的机制和模式的相互作用，艾滋病毒/性传播感染的男男性行为者之间的传播，设计创新的，具有成本效益的合作伙伴通知系统，以预防性传播感染和艾滋病毒的传播在秘鲁。 公共卫生相关性：在发达地区和发展中地区，伴侣通知和治疗都是艾滋病毒和性传播感染控制的关键和尚未解决的问题。在此评估的战略虽然符合拉丁美洲艾滋病毒流行病的具体需要，但将适用于广泛的全球环境，以加强对性传播感染的控制和预防艾滋病毒感染的传播。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of the proposed research is to assess new strategies for partner management and STI control as methods to reduce the spread of HIV-1 among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Latin America. The HIV epidemic in Peru remains concentrated within the core risk group of MSM. STI infection and re-infection are central to the continuation of the HIV epidemic among MSM in Peru. Development of improved strategies for partner notification and treatment will reduce the incidence and prevalence of STIs and ultimately reduce the incidence of HIV infection in this population. Specific Aim 1: To explore the influence of behavioral, sociocultural, and clinical aspects of STI transmission on partner notification attitudes and practices among MSM in urban Peru. Specific Aim 1a. To develop a quantitative survey for the assessment of behavioral, sociocultural, and biomedical factors influencing partner notification decisions among MSM in Peru. Specific Aim 1b. To use quantitative methods to assess behavioral, sociocultural, and biomedical factors influencing partner notification decisions among MSM in Peru. Specific Aim 2: To assess the efficacy of internet- and referral card-based partner notification tools for the improvement of partner notification outcomes among MSM in Lima, Peru. The intervention is tailored to address key aspects of Peru's social and epidemiologic environment, including high rates of internet use, underdeveloped community formation among MSM, and circular patterns of HIV and STI transmission within MSM sexual networks. As a result, the proposed research manipulates existing mechanisms and patterns of interaction for the spread of HIV/STIs among MSM to design innovative, cost-effective systems of partner notification for the prevention of STI and HIV transmission in Peru. PUBLI HEALTH RELEVANCE: Partner notification and treatment are critical, unresolved aspects of HIV and STI control in both developed and developing regions. The strategies assessed here, while organic to the specific needs of the HIV epidemic in Latin America, will be applicable to a wide range of global settings to increase control of STIs and prevent the transmission of HIV infection.