The Partner Notification Project
What is Partner Notification?
When someone in Pennsylvania tests positive for syphilis, monkeypox, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PA-DOH) offers to notify their recent sexual partners of the positive test and provide resources for testing and early diagnosis, treatment, counseling, and prevention.
For many people, getting a call from an unknown number telling you that a partner has tested positive can feel intrusive, embarrassing, and sometimes, life-altering.
How can we do better?
Our team at the University of Pittsburgh and the PA-DOH want to learn what it’s like to use this service or receive these calls, how the PA-DOH can make these resources more compassionate and accessible, and how community outreach can increase awareness and acceptance of the partner notification in response to STI testing.
Story Collection
Employees from the PA-DOH and individuals who have received or requested partner notification calls will be asked to share their opinions and experiences with the current PA-DOH partner notification system.
Community Collaboration
Interview participants and community organizations will meet to review the stories we’ve heard and work together to develop new programs and protocols for compassionate and effective partner notification.
Health Education
The collaborative will work toward a social media-based health education initiative to decrease stigma around partner notification and distribute health resources to all Pennsylvania communities.
