Testing pregnant women for HIV: a survey of obstetricians and review of patient prenatal/obstetric medical records--Connecticut 1996-1997.
High rates of prenatal testing are needed to identify all HIV-infected pregnant women and prevent transmission to their offspring. To evaluate HIV testing of pregnant women in Connecticut, a survey was conducted in 1998 of licensed obstetricians and a review was performed of 992 randomly sampled prenatal and obstetric medical records for births occurring in 1996. Results of the survey indicated that 78.8% of respondents routinely offered HIV counseling and 76.4% routinely offered HIV testing to pregnant patients in 1997. However, only 44% reported that greater than half of their patients were being tested. Providers who had an HIV testing policy that included HIV-testing unless the patient refused had the highest rate (80.8%; P < 0.05). The review of medical records revealed that only 28.8% of women who delivered in 1996 had an HIV test performed during prenatal care. Maternal characteristics associated (P < 0.05) with testing included Hispanic ethnicity (51.8% tested), younger age (53.6%, < 20 years old), having Medicaid (48.0%), hospital clinic services (44.6%), and history of intravenous drug use (IDU) (76.9%). Testing rate varied by hospital from 0% to 82.8%. These results indicate that considerable modification of provider and hospital practices and policies is needed to raise HIV screening rates.
Roome
A
A
Connecticut Department of Public Health, Hartford, USA.
Carley
K
K
Melchreit
R
R
Foye
G
G
Hadler
J
J
D000328:Adult; D003237:Connecticut / Q000453:epidemiology; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology