(P264) Factors associated with ability to recontact prior sex partners for treatment among young Black men with chlamydia in New Orleans, LA

Background

Prompt and effective treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) is important for minimizing sequelae. Additionally, by providing a prescription or medication to the partners of Ct-positive patients, expedited partner treatment (EPT) can decrease reinfections. EPT is contingent upon an index patient’s ability to contact their sex partners. Many patients assert their partners are unable to be contacted; however, little is known about why a partner may be uncontactable.

Methods

Black men aged 15-24 were enrolled in a community Ct screening/treatment program in New Orleans, Louisiana from July 20th, 2018, to March 14^th, 2020. All men underwent a computer-assisted self-administered survey eliciting information on the nature of their sexual partners and received a Ct NAAT test. All Ct positive men were offered expediated treatment for themselves and patient-delivered partner-treatment (PDPT) for their sex partners. Factors associated with the ability to recontact partners were assessed using GEE. Kappa analysis was conducted to assess the agreement between ability to contact partners and delivery of medication to that partner.



Results

Of the 1023 men screened, 104 (10.2%) tested positive for Ct. Their median age was 20.3 (range 15.5-24.9), and the median number of female partners reported in the last two months was 1 (range 1-10). Information was provided on 184 female partners, of whom 143 (77.7%) were deemed contactable by the index. Factors positively associated with increased odds of being contactable were being a girlfriend compared to an internet hookup (p< 0.0001), being someone the index might want a relationship with compared to a girlfriend (p=0.0078), living together (p< 0.0001), longer sexual relationship duration (p=0.0308) and having known the partner for a while compared to meeting them through people not well known by the index (p=0.0035). Only 72/184 (39.1%) partners received PDPT. There was low agreement between reporting a partner was contactable and the receipt of PDPT by that partner (kappa=0.0396 [-0.0624, 0.1427]).

Conclusions

Several factors are associated with being able to contact a partner. Yet reporting that a partner is contactable, may not guarantee that the partner receives PDPT. More evidence is needed to elicit barriers to PDPT to maximize treatment of Ct.