Article Text

Download PDFPDF
Sex difference in partner notification: results from three population based surveys in France
  1. J Warszawski,
  2. L Meyer
  1. INSERM U292, Service d'Epidémiologie AP-HP, France
  1. Correspondence to:
 Josiane Warszawski, INSERM U292, Service d'Epidémiologie AP-HP, Hôpital Bicêtre, 82, rue du Général Leclerc, 94 276 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre Cedex, France;
 warszaws{at}vjf.inserm.fr

Abstract

Objectives: To estimate the proportion of individuals in the general population who did not notify their sexual partners at the time of an STD diagnosis, according to the sex of the patient and the type of partner.

Methods: We analysed behaviour at the time of diagnosis of a self reported STD, using data from three large French national population based surveys of adults (ACSF, Barométre Santé) and adolescents (ACSJ). Univariate and multivariate analyses took into account the complex sampling design.

Results: In the ACSF, 14% (95% CI: 4% to 24%) of men reported that they had not informed their main sexual partner compared with only 2% (95% CI: 0% to 5%) of women (p = 0.03). This sex difference was independent of the nature of the STD, the patient's age, level of education, and number of partners. Similarly, in the ACSJ, 51% (95% CI: 21% to 81%) of boys reported that they had not talked about this STD with their current sexual partner compared with only 9% (95% CI: 0% to 26%) of girls (p = 0.04). Notification by a sexual partner had led to discovery of the STD more frequently in male subjects than in female subjects, both in adults (32% of men compared with 4% of women (p=0.04)), and adolescents (36% of boys compared with 12% of girls). Most subjects, irrespective of sex, had not informed partners other than their main or current partner: 73% (95% CI: 62% to 84%) of adults and 86% (95% CI: 77% to 95%) of adolescents.

Conclusions: Procedures must be developed urgently to improve the notification of sexual partners, particularly female partners and adolescents, who are unlikely to be tested early without such notification.

  • partner notification
  • sexually transmitted diseases
  • public health

Statistics from Altmetric.com

Request Permissions

If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

Footnotes

Linked Articles

  • Brief encounters
    Mohsen Shahmanesh