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Predictors of Partner Notification for C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae: An Examination of Social Cognitive and Psychological Factors

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Abstract

Efforts to control chlamydial and gonococcal infections include notifying eligible sexual partners of possible infection, primarily by asking the diagnosed patient to notify their partners. This approach, known as patient referral, is widely used but poorly understood. The current study examined psychosocial and cognitive factors associated with patient referral among an urban, minority sample of 168 participants recently diagnosed with Chlamydia trachomatis or Neisseria gonorrhoeae. At a follow-up interview 1-month from diagnosis, participants were more likely to have notified all eligible partners if they had greater intention to notify at baseline (OR = 3.72; 95% CI = 1.34, 10.30) and if they had only one partner at baseline (OR = 4.08; 95% CI = 1.61, 10.31). There were also gender differences as well as differences based on type of partner (i.e., regular, casual, one-time). The implications of these findings for the design of programs to promote patient referral for sexually transmitted infections are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Grant #R30 CCR219136; Tracey E. Wilson, PI). The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of Angelette Cintron, Rhonda Curney, Mikhail Zlotin and Joy Williams (SUNY Downstate), Lucindy Williams (NYCDOH), and Lorraine DuBouchet and ChellyAnn Hinds (Kings County Hospital Center) as well as the staff and administrators at the Kings County Hospital Center in Brooklyn, NY, the New York City Department of Health, Bureau of STD Control, New York, NY, and the New York City Department of Health STD Clinic, Fort Greene, Brooklyn, NY.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Box 1240, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 11203, USA

    Rebecca M. Schwartz PhD

Authors
  1. Rebecca M. Schwartz PhD
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  2. Edmond S. Malka
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  3. Michael Augenbraun
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  4. Steven Rubin
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  5. Matthew Hogben
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  6. Nicole Liddon
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  7. William M. McCormack
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  8. Tracey E. Wilson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rebecca M. Schwartz PhD.

Additional information

Schwartz, Malka, Augenbraun, McCormack, and Wilson are with the State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA; Rubin is with the New York City Department of Health, Bureau of STD Control, New York, NY, USA; Rubin, Hogben, and Liddon are with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA; Schwartz is with the Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Box 1240, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA.

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Schwartz, R.M., Malka, E.S., Augenbraun, M. et al. Predictors of Partner Notification for C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae: An Examination of Social Cognitive and Psychological Factors. J Urban Health 83, 1095–1104 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-006-9087-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-006-9087-9

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