A growing evidence base supports expansion of partner notification in HIV testing services (HTS) in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2015, a cross-sectional study was conducted in Njombe region, Tanzania, to evaluate partner notification within facility-based HTS. Men and women newly diagnosed with HIV were enrolled as index clients and asked to list current or past sexual partners for referral to HTS. Successful partner referral was 2.5 times more likely among married compared to unmarried index clients and 2.2 times more likely among male compared to female index clients. In qualitative analysis, male as well as female index clients mentioned difficulties notifying past or casual partners, and noted disease symptoms as a motivating factor for HIV testing. Female index clients mentioned gender-specific challenges to successful referral. Women may need additional support to overcome challenges in the partner notification process. In addition to reducing barriers to partner notification specific to women, a programmatic emphasis on social strengths of males in successfully referring partners should be considered.
Keywords: Gender; HIV testing; Index clients; Partner notification; Tanzania.