Partner notification of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is that public health activity in which the partners of individuals with an infectious disease are notified, counseled about their exposure, and offered services.<sup>14 Potterat J.J., Mehus A., Gallwey J. Partner notification: Operational considerations Int J STD AIDS 1991 ;  2 : 411-415

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> Partner notification was documented as a means of STD control in Britain<sup>5 Cowan F.M., French R., Johnson A. The role and effectiveness of partner notification in STD control: A review Genitourin Med 1996 ;  72 : 247-252  [cross-ref]

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> and Sweden as early as the 19th century, and in the United States, it was a core activity in STD control for more than 50 years. Over time, partner notification methods have wavered between mandatory and voluntary approaches.<sup>7 House of Lords Parliamentary Debates   Official Report. 125, No 435 London: HMSO (1942). 

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 8 Hunter I., Jacobs J., Kinnel H. , e al.   Handbook on Contact Tracing in Sexually Transmitted Diseases London: The Health Education Council (1980). 

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup>

Partner notification has been shown to be an extremely effective way of identifying people at high risk for some STDs, such as gonorrhea or syphilis.<sup>12 Oxman A.D., Scott E.A., Sellors J.W. , e al. Partner notification for sexually transmitted diseases: An overview of the evidence Can J Public Health 1994 ;  85 (suppl 1) : 41-47

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 13 Peterman T.A., Toomey K.E., Dicker L.W. , e al. Partner notification for syphilis: A randomized, controlled trial of three approaches Sex Transm Dis 1997 ;  24 : 511

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> It has been recommended as an intervention strategy to prevent STD and HIV transmission<sup>16 Potterat J.J., Spencer N.E., Woodhouse D.E. , e al. Partner notification in the control of human immunodeficiency virus infection Am J Public Health 1989 ;  79 : 874-876  [cross-ref]

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 19 World Health Organization Consensus statements in HIV transmission Lancet 1989 ;  i : 396

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> together with counseling, testing, sexual health promotion, and the social marketing of condoms.<sup>4 Coates T.J., Aggleton P., Gutzwiller F. , e al. HIV prevention in developed countries Lancet 1996 ;  348 : 1143-1148  [cross-ref]

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 10 Kelly J.A. Sexually transmitted disease prevention approaches that work: Interventions to reduce risk behaviour among individuals, groups, and communities Sex Transm Dis 1994 ;  21 (suppl 2) : 73-75

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 17 Stryker J., Coates T.J., DeCarlo P. , e al. Prevention of HIV infection: Looking back, looking ahead JAMA 1996 ;  273 : 1143-1148

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> This article reviews some of the techniques currently used for partner notification and considers methods for improving the strategy.