During mobile HIV screening, a client with HIV states revengeful intent and has slept with several women. Which question is most important to ask?

• A. Can you locate all the women with whom you have sex while infected?
• B. Have you disclosed your status to all partners?
• C. Are you currently taking antiretroviral therapy?
• D. Do you practice safe sex with all partners?

Answer: (A)

Focusing on partner notification and protection of others from HIV transmission. In mobile screening, the most important step is to determine whether the client can identify and help locate all sexual partners who may have been exposed. If those partners can be found, you can arrange confidential notification and access to testing and linkage to care, which directly interrupts ongoing transmission, a critical concern when there’s risk of revengeful behavior and multiple partners. While discussing disclosure to partners, antiretroviral therapy, and safe-sex practices is important, none of those actions by themselves ensures that partners are promptly informed and protected. If the patient can’t or won’t help locate partners, health authorities can assist with partner notification while preserving confidentiality to the extent possible.