Perceptions, experiences, and preferences for partner services among Black and Latino men who have sex with men and transwomen in North Carolina

ABSTRACT

Objectives

In the United States, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) disproportionately affect men who have sex with men (MSM) and transwomen of color. Partner services can prevent STI transmission by facilitating testing and treatment for partners of individuals diagnosed with an STI. Understanding client perspectives towards partner services is critical to their acceptance and uptake. This study examined perceptions, experiences, and preferences for partner services among Black and Latino MSM and transwomen in North Carolina.

Design

We conducted seven audio-recorded focus groups in English (n = 5) and Spanish (n = 2). The audio was transcribed verbatim and we inductively analyzed data using field notes, systematic coding, and thematic comparison.

Results

Black MSM reported the most exposure and experiences with partner services, and most perceived partner services negatively. Feeling supported and having flexibility characterized positive experiences with partner services among Black MSM; feeling judged or harassed characterized negative experiences. Black transwomen had less exposure to partner services and had a mix of positive reactions to the approach, along with concerns about client confidentiality. Most Latino participants were unaware of partner services and expressed openness to their potential. All participants preferred self-notifying and wanted flexible, discreet, supportive partner services with linkages to other wellness resources.

Conclusion

Building off positive partner services experiences and responding to client preferences can enhance trust, acceptability, and service use.

KEYWORDS:

• Partner services
• transgender
• men who have sex with men
• Latino
• partner notification

Acknowledgements

We thank participants for sharing their time, perspectives, and experiences. We thank our community partners and our colleagues at the Communicable Disease Branch at the NC Division of Public Health for their guidance and support in planning and carrying out the study. We also thank our colleagues Matthew Hogben and Monique Carry at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for their support of this project.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Statement of human rights

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the Institutional Review Boards at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Wake Forest University Health Sciences and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (National Center for HIV/AIDS Viral Hepatitis STD and TB Prevention) under [grant numbers 6 NU50CK000530-01-02 and CK14-140105PPHF18] to the North Carolina Division of Public Health.