Partner notification of pregnant women infected with syphilis in Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

We examined partner notification among syphilitic pregnant women in Nairobi. At delivery, 377 women were found to be rapid plasma reagin (RPR) reactive. Data were available for 94% of the partners of women who were tested during pregnancy; over 67% of the partners had received syphilis treatment while 23% had not sought treatment mainly because they felt healthy. Six per cent of the women had not informed their partners as they feared blame and/or violence. Adverse pregnancy outcome was related to lack of partner treatment during pregnancy (7% versus 19%, odds ratio (OR) 3.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.9-10.0). Our data suggest that messages focusing on the health of the unborn child have a positive effect on partner notification and innovative and locally adapted strategies for partner notification need more attention.

Partner notification for sexually transmitted infections in developing countries: a systematic review

“…The median proportion of partners notified in the selected studies who reported quantitative estimates was 54% (range, 0% to 94%) depending on the type of partner and the means of verification (Table 3). These extremes were found in one study, where 0% notification for casual partners, but 94% for spousal partners [25]. The proportion of partners actually referred to the clinics was, 20% for female partners of male STI patients in China [34], 30% for male partners of women diagnosed with STIs in prenatal screening in Haiti [23] and 34% of the partners received treatment in patient oriented notification method in Zambia [22].…”

Epidemiology of syphilis in Kenya: results from a nationally representative serological survey

“…If congenital syphilis is to be eliminated in Kenya, screening and treatment will need to be extended to all pregnant women. Syphilis screening at ANC clinics should be routine as a part of the national syphilis control policy in Kenya15 16 and continuous efforts are needed to ensure high quality of ANC services including adequate staff, equipment, supplies and ANC attendance 16–19…”

Syphilis control during pregnancy: effectiveness and sustainability of a decentralized program

“…The partner notification rate of 53% reported here is twice as high as for nonpregnant patients with an STD other than HIV who attended the same clinic. 18 Concern about the unborn baby seems to motivate future fathers to get treatment 19,20 and may help women to inform their partners despite the threat of possible physical abuse. 21 The effectiveness of the treatment may be limited, because women in Kenya tend to come late for prenatal care.…”