(P146) DIFFERENCES IN SYPHILIS PARTNER SERVICES OUTCOMES AMONG ASYLUM SEEKER AND NON-ASYLUM SEEKER SEX AT BIRTH FEMALES, CHICAGO, IL

Background:
Between 01/01/2023 - 12/31/2023, Chicago saw an influx of asylum seekers (AS) from the southern border. Among this population, 106 new syphilis cases were reported among sex at-birth females (SABF) and referred to Partner Services (PS) staff at the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) for follow-up. During this time-period, 600 new cases were reported among non-asylum seeker SABF Chicagoans that were referred for follow-up. The objective of this evaluation was to assess differences in PS outcomes.

Methods:
Cases of syphilis were reported to the Chicago Health Information Management System and assigned based on syphilis reactor-grid and PS matrix that prioritizes SABF of reproductive age. From 05/2020 to present, CDPH PS team conducts telephonic case investigations & interviews. Outcomes were based on CDC-defined syphilis case dispositions.

Results:
Among non-AS cases (n=600), 56.0% were dispositioned C (Brought to Treatment) or E (Previously Treated), 38.2% were D (Infected, Not Treated), and 3.0% were missing a disposition. Common reasons for D dispositions included: unable to locate (UTL) (48.5%), active/passive refusals (23.6%), and unable to confirm treatment (9.2%). For AS cases (n=106), 42.5% were dispositioned C or E, 49.1% were D, and 4.7% were missing an outcome. Most common reasons for D dispositions included: UTL (59.6%), active/passive refusals (19.2%), provider refusing to treat (7.7%), and unconfirmed treatment status (7.7%). Differences between AS and non-AS by disposition were significant at 0.1 alpha-level (p-value=0.053) using Fisher’s exact test.

Conclusion:
AS clients had a 13.5% lower frequency of C and E dispositions than non-AS.  When comparing rationale for D dispositions, each population listed the same factors, however a higher proportion of AS were UTL (+11.1%) and refused intervention less often (-4.4%) than non-AS, indicating this disparity may be from difficulties reaching this population through current methods. There is a need to conduct in-person field investigations to improve PS outcomes.