Implementing the universal routine-offer antenatal HIV screening programme in New Zealand: results from the first year.
OBJECTIVE
The Ministry of Health in New Zealand announced implementation of antenatal HIV screening in June 2005, to begin in Waikato District Health Board and progressively roll-out to other health boards over 3 years. The implementation approach and experiences of the first implementation area are described.


METHODS
A local multidisciplinary collaborative team facilitated implementation. Targeted antenatal healthcare provider education sessions and written resources were evaluated and testing outcomes were monitored.


RESULTS
The approach to implementation appears to have been successful. Pre-implementation evaluations of written materials and targeted education sessions were very positive. Uptake of HIV testing amongst pregnant women undergoing antenatal blood testing has been very high (99.7%) during the first year of the programme.


CONCLUSIONS
The antenatal HIV screening programme has been introduced successfully in the first district health board and wider national roll-out should now be a priority.
Morgan
Jane
J
Waikato Hospital, Hamilton. Morganj@waikatodhb.govt.nz
Mills
Graham
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006284:Health Plan Implementation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity