Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common in pregnant women. Effective partner treatment of women with an STI is essential to prevent reinfection. We evaluated the impact of partner notification and treatment based on the occurrence of repeat STIs in pregnant women in South Africa.
We used data from one of the intervention arms in a randomised clinical trial of STI diagnostic screening strategies in pregnancy. In this cohort, women were tested at their first antenatal care visit (<27 weeks gestational age) using onsite Xpert test assays (Cepheid, Sunnyvale, California, USA) for Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Trichomonas vaginalis. Women with a positive STI result received pathogen-directed treatment, partner notification slips, and a test-of-cure visit was scheduled 21–35 days post-treatment. At the test of cure visit, sexual behaviour and partner treatment data were collected, and STI testing was repeated. Cure was defined as a negative result at the test-of-cure visit.
Of 754 women tested, 193 (26%) tested positive for an STI and 183 (95%) received pathogen-directed treatment. A test-of-cure visit was attended by 108/183 (59%) women within the time window. Of those, 19/108 (18%) had a positive repeat STI result. Most women attending the test-of-cure visit (95%; 103/108) reported disclosure of their STI to their partner; however, only 44% (48/108) reported that their partner received treatment. Among those who reported partner treatment, the repeat STI positivity was 4% versus 27% in those with reported untreated partners (risk ratio 0.15 with 95% CI 0.03 to 0.7).
Reported partner treatment reduced the likelihood of a repeat positive test result in pregnant women. Strengthening partner notification and treatment is essential to prevent reinfection.