What is the level of uptake of partner notification services in HIV testing in selected health facilities in Gatanga Sub County, Muranga County – Kenya; a retrospective study

BACKGROUND: Identification of people living with HIV is key in HIV prevention and control. Partner Notification service is a World Health Organization backed strategy of reaching out to sexual partners of people diagnosed with HIV for HIV testing. However, its adoption and success rate in Kenya remains unknown. METHODS: A cross sectional facility based study was undertaken in five purposely selected health facilities in Gatanga Sub county, Muranga County, Kenya. A retrospective review of patient medical records data for HIV positive index clients and their Sexual Partners conducted. Census approach was applied to extract data for study subjects from Partner Notification Services registers for the period covering January 2017 to August 2018. Epi Info software was used for data analysis. RESULTS: A total of 183 index clients were offered Partner notification services. The mean age of the indexed clients studied was 39(SD ±13.1). Females comprised 64% of clients studied. Of the 183 indexed clients, 89% accepted the services and elicited 216 sexual partners for tracing. The ratio of elicited sexual partners to index client was 1.3:1. Out of the 216 sexual partners, 77% were reached and tested. A total of 46 [32%] of the sexual partners elicited and traced, tested HIV positive. The most preferred approaches were provider referral (51%) and contract referral (45%). Dual referral (4%) was the least preferred approach. CONCLUSIONS: Assisted Partner notification services is acceptable and an effective strategy of increasing HIV case identification and raising awareness to exposed sexual partners in low resource countries.