Partner notification among HCV-positive couples who inject drugs

Background: This study examines predictors of partner notification (PN) confirmed by a test counselor among people who inject drugs (PWID) and their sexual partners in Kazakhstan.

Methods: We used baseline data from an HIV couple-based intervention study, restricting the sample to couples where both partners knew they were hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive prior to participation in the study (N?=?136 individuals). Cross-tabulation and logistic regression were used to examine predictors of PN, including socio-demographic characteristics, sexual and drug risk behaviors, and access to health services.

Results: Of the sample, 68 (50%) participants notified their partners of their HCV status. PN was associated with participation in a needle/syringe exchange program and sexually transmitted infection counseling or education in the past 6 months. In the adjusted model, concurrent HIV infection (OR?=?2.4, p?<?0.05), having more than one sexual partner (OR?=?2.5, p?<?0.05), and participation in a needle exchange program (OR?=?4.3, p?<?0.01) were positively associated with notifying one's partner.

Conclusions: The findings from this study emphasize the importance of service access among PWID and point to the need for additional research on HCV counseling and notification strategies as a component of health services for injection drug users.