AIDS contact notification: Initial program results in New Jersey

As part of an 1988-89 evaluation of New Jersey's newly established HIV Notification Assistance Program (NAP), data were collected concerning number of HIV+ persons providing contact names; contact characteristics; reactions to NAP of HIV counselors, their clients, and of notified contacts; and program costs. There was initial resistance to the program both from HIV counselors and their clients. By mid-1989, acceptance of the program by referring HIV counselors had increased. The proportion of HIV+ clients who referred contacts was still low, but had increased to 10%. 160 contacts were notified: 72% sexual contacts and 28% needle sharing contacts, 59% male and 41% female, 58% black, 29% white, 13% Hispanic. 67% considered themselves at moderate or high risk for HIV; 31% stated that they had already been tested for HIV, with 7% having tested positive. Cost per notified contact was $2,260; cost per contact not previously tested HIV+ and unaware of risk was $3,014. Findings suggest that persuading counselors at HIV counseling and testing sites of the program's value is a key prerequisite for success, in situations where notification is carried out by a separate agency. Once the program has been in place for a time and has established credibility, the opportunity exists for initial resistance to be overcome.