Do physicians discuss HIV testing during prenatal care?
OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency with which Hamilton, Ont, general practitioners and family physicians discussed and offered HIV testing during prenatal care.


METHODS
Cross-sectional mailed survey.


METHODS
Family physicians' and general practitioners' offices in Hamilton, including group or solo private practices and community health centres.


METHODS
General practitioners and family physicians in Hamilton identified from the Ontario Medical Association and the 1995 Canadian Medical Directory. Two hundred forty-one practitioners were sent surveys; 25% had moved or no longer practised family medicine, and 65% (140 of 216) were returned.


METHODS
Frequency with which physicians discuss with and offer HIV testing to prenatal patients.


RESULTS
Eighty percent of clinicians felt they understood their professional role in providing HIV testing, and more than 90% had referred female patients for HIV testing. Eight percent of physicians always discussed HIV when reviewing pregnancy care, and 5% always offered HIV testing to patients in the first trimester of pregnancy.


CONCLUSIONS
Currently, few physicians discuss HIV testing with all their prenatal patients.
Ogilvie
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G
Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont. ogilvieg@fhs.csu.mcmaster.ca
Adsett
S
S
Macdonald
G
G
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000191:economics