Table 2. Barriers to Partner Notification Themes With Illustrative Quotations.

Theme	Illustrative Quotations
Fear of retaliation or loss of relationship	“Yeah, because you don't know how a person is going to take it or is that person going to hurt you or spread a rumor, so that is one of the biggest concerns.”
	“Now days on the streets, if somebody says [he/she has an STI], they are going to try to do something to you.”
Social stigma or embarrassment	“Maybe they are embarrassed, ashamed or maybe they cheated.”
	“Because people are making fun of people when they get it.”
Lack of understanding or concern of the consequences associated with STIs	“If I see that they [a partner] don't care, then I would just leave them alone.”
	“A lot of guys don't really tell and that's the biggest problem with STDs … so, nobody really goes to get checked or calls to say I have something.”
	“People don't see STDs as being a big thing.”

STD = sexually transmitted disease; STI = sexually transmitted infection.