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伙伴管理和性传播感染控制的新战略，以此作为减少艾滋病毒-1在拉丁美洲男男性行为者(MSM)中传播的方法。秘鲁的艾滋病毒流行仍然集中在男男性接触者这一核心风险群体。性传播感染和再感染是秘鲁男男性接触者中艾滋病毒流行持续的核心。制定改进的伴侣通知和治疗战略将减少性传播感染的发生率和流行率，并最终减少这一人群中艾滋病毒感染的发生率。具体目标1：探索性传播感染的行为、社会文化和临床方面对秘鲁城市男男性行为者的伴侣通知态度和行为的影响。具体目标1a。为评估影响秘鲁男男性行为者伴侣通知决策的行为、社会文化和生物医学因素，制定一项量化调查。具体目标1b。使用定量方法评估影响秘鲁男男性接触者伴侣通知决定的行为、社会文化和生物医学因素。具体目标2：评估基于互联网和推荐卡的合作伙伴通知工具在改善秘鲁利马MSM中的合作伙伴通知结果方面的有效性。这项干预措施是为解决秘鲁社会和流行病环境的关键方面而量身定做的，包括高互联网使用率、MSM中不发达的社区形成以及艾滋病毒和性传播在MSM性网络中的循环模式。因此，拟议的研究操纵了现有的在男男性接触者中传播艾滋病毒/性传播感染的互动机制和模式，以设计创新的、具有成本效益的伙伴通知制度，以防止性传播感染和艾滋病毒在秘鲁的传播。 公共卫生相关性：伙伴通知和治疗是发达区域和发展中区域艾滋病毒和性传播感染控制中尚未解决的关键方面。此处评估的战略虽然符合拉丁美洲艾滋病毒流行的具体需要，但将适用于范围广泛的全球环境，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.