Women's attitudes to HIV screening in pregnancy in an area of low prevalence.
OBJECTIVE
To identify factors that influence acceptance of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening test by pregnant women.


METHODS
Prospective survey using questionnaires.


METHODS
An antenatal clinic at a tertiary referral hospital.


METHODS
200 pregnant women of multiethnic origin residing in a low prevalence area.


METHODS
Two hundred consecutive women attending the antenatal booking clinic were interviewed. We collected data on reasons for opting in or out and factors that could influence the rate of acceptance, such as ethnicity, age, parity, level of education, first language and marital or relationship status.


METHODS
Attitudes of pregnant women to HIV screening. The rate of acceptance of HIV screening was 160/200(80%). The most frequent reasons for opting in were the perceived benefits of screening (92/160, 58%) and the fact that the test is now routinely offered (87/160, 54%). The most frequent reason for refusal of screening was perceived low risk of HIV (27/40, 68%). Logistic regression analysis showed that ethnicity, age, parity and level of formal education did not play a role in influencing uptake of the test. However, women whose first language was English were more likely to opt in compared with those whose first language was not English (P = 0.016) and those who were married or in a stable relationship were more likely to opt in than those who were not (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
We have not reached the national target of 90% in our region. This appears to be due to a combination of factors, the main one being a perception of low risk. Greater knowledge of the ease of transmission of HIV may alter this perception, which may improve acceptance of the test.
Jha
Swati
S
Education Resource Centre, Birmingham Women's Hospital, UK.
Gee
Harry
H
Coomarasamy
Aravinthan
A
D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires