Internet Partner ServicesSolicitation in Texas

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• Internet Partner Services/Solicitation in Texas
• Tamika R. Martin, MPH, CHES
• Senior Public Health Investigator/Internet
  Partner Specialist

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Outline

• Overview
• Internet
• Sex the Internet
• Syphilis rates
• Houston Department of Health and Human Services
• MSM social networking websites
• Notification process
• Internet Partner Notification Objectives
• Notification requests
• Recent changes
• PENSHouston
• Benefits/Barriers
• Future Aspirations
• Questions

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Harris County, Texas

• 3.7  million  residents
• Most  populous  county  in  Texas
• Third  most  populous  county  in  the  US
• Spanning  approximately  1,700 square  miles

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About Houston

• Approximately  2  million  residents
• Fourth  most  populous  city  in  the  US
• Spanning  more  than  600  square  miles

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Overview

• HDHHS has been utilizing the internet for
  partner notification since 2005. Internet
  Partner Specialist research identify websites
  frequented by MSM, notify, evaluate refer
  patients for treatment, act as a liaison
  establish protocols to provide public health
  follow-up for health departments state-wide who
  are unable to perform these services due to local
  controls.

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Internet

• Prominent in 1990s
• Trend vs. lifestyle
• Can search for everything
• Internet access on cell phones
• Public health system must embrace technology

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Sex the Internet

• New opportunities for MSM to meet sex partners
• Major avenue for high-risk behavior
• Normalize high-risk behaviors
• Anonymously find partners with similar sexual
  interests
• Powerful tool for use with HIV prevention
  interventions
• Untapped by governmental organizations

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P/S syphilis rates
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Houston Department of Health Human Services

• Increase in early syphilis cases MSM since 2001
• Attributed to internet activity?
• Online partner notification services since 2005
• Include internet questions in DIS interviews
• Internet Partner Specialist
• Established profiles on websites

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MSM social websites

• Allows men to meet others in their vicinity
• Most allow adult photos to be posted
• Real names are not required
• Can search for men with similar sexual wants

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Notification process

• Research and identify
• Ability to access
• Establish Memorandums of Understanding
• Sites willing to work w/o paperwork
• Establish professional profiles

• Locate the identified partners
• Notify, evaluate and refer
• Facilitate patient contact
• Maintain the confidentiality
• Keep abreast of current trends

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Internet Partner Notification Objectives

• Promote the roles and responsibilities performed
  by the IPS
• Encourage the collection of data
• Notify 95 of contacts with valid online profiles
• Inform the contact via the respective social
  networking website
• Within 2 business days follow-up with the
  investigating agency
• Provide educational information about sexually
  transmitted diseases to users

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Notification requests

• Requests from across the USA
• 17 requests from other regions in 2008
• No follow-up
• 5 requests in 2009
• 3 contacted the DIS
• Unknown how many were seen by a physician

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Recent changes

• Inform all health departments of IPS
• Tracking of notifications
• DIS requests
• City
• Response from contact
• Was contact seen and/or treated

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Houston Department of Health and Human Services
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PENSHouston.com

• Partner elicitation and notification services
• Objective- meet the challenges
• Education interview sections
• Private providers DIS
• IPS duties

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• Benefits
• Locates partners who cant be found by
  traditional means
• Privacy for patients
• Keeps up with changing times
• Easy Access
• Convenient
• Economical

• Barriers
• Confidentiality
• No utilization
• Denials from the internet websites
• Lack of concern by patients

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Future aspirations

• Market HDHHS services
• Permanent fixture in the state
• Stay current with new websites/trends
• Texting

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Tamika R. Martin, MPH, CHES Houston Department of
Health and Human Services Bureau of HIV/STD and
Viral Hepatitis Prevention 8000 N. Stadium Dr.
5th fl Houston, TX 77054 713.791.6955
(office) 713.540.6829 (city cell) Tamika.martin_at_ci
tyofhouston.net