HIV/AIDS knowledge and risk behaviour in Hong Kong Chinese pregnant women.
BACKGROUND
With the increase in HIV infection among childbearing aged women in Hong Kong, health department policy-makers are considering the implementation of antenatal HIV screening to identify infected mothers. However, little is known about women's understanding of HIV/AIDS, and their attitudes towards HIV screening.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to explore pregnant women's knowledge about HIV/AIDS, their perceptions of risk, risk behaviour and management, and their attitudes towards HIV screening.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was carried out, and all Chinese pregnant women who attended an antenatal clinic of a regional hospital in Hong Kong in the month of December 2000 were invited to complete a questionnaire.


RESULTS
Hong Kong pregnant women had fairly good general knowledge of HIV/AIDS (mean score = 4.8/6), but were less knowledgeable on specific mother-to-child HIV transmission (mean score = 3.6/6). There were statistically significant differences between those with different levels of education (chi2 = 19.81; P < 0.001) and between Hong Kong born residents and immigrants from the Chinese mainland (z = -4.03; P < 0.001). Over a third (36.7%) of all pregnant women perceived a risk of contracting HIV. If HIV infection were suspected, over 70% would have HIV screening together with their spouse. If HIV was confirmed, 24% would terminate the pregnancy. As many as 78.5% and 72.8% of women believed that HIV screening should be carried out before marriage and pregnancy respectively. Only 4.7% would choose universal opt-out antenatal HIV testing.


CONCLUSIONS
Health educators should provide tailored-made education programmes for women at risk, particularly those at lower education levels and those who have come from the Chinese mainland, to enhance their knowledge about mother-to-child HIV transmission, and to promote awareness of safe sex. Health policy-makers should consider the possibility of providing pre-marriage and pre-pregnancy HIV screening for women.
Ho
Choi Fung
CF
Department of Health, Hong Kong, China.
Loke
Alice Yuen
AY
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires