title: Factors associated with history of HIV testing among pregnant women and their partners in Cameroon: baseline data from a Behavioral Intervention Trial (ANRS 12127 Prenahtest).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We investigated HIV testing practices at baseline among pregnant women and their partners within a multicountry randomized trial aiming to evaluate the effect of enhanced prenatal posttest HIV counseling on men's involvement.
  
  
  METHODS
  In Yaoundé, Cameroon, 484 pregnant women with stable partners were recruited on their first antenatal care visit. We analyzed the coverage of previous HIV testing among women and their partners and looked for the factors associated with previous HIV testing, using multivariable logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 476 pregnant women who completed the baseline questionnaire, 408 (85.7%) reported having been tested for HIV already once in their life, 48.3% of them during a previous pregnancy. Women previously tested for HIV were more likely to be in a stable relationship for >5 years than those never tested (P < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, tested women were more likely to be aged between 25 and 30 years compared with women <20 years [odds ratio (OR) 5.5, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.4 to 22.1], to be able to say whether they felt at risk for HIV infection (OR 2.1, CI: 1.1 to 3.9), and to have ever discussed about HIV with their partner (OR 2.7, CI: 1.1 to 6.4). Most women (85.1%) reported that their partner had already been tested for HIV. Reasons for partner HIV testing were related to self-motivation (30.0%) and clinical symptoms (12.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Strategies aiming at improving knowledge and couple communication about HIV risks need to be considered to address the remaining barriers to HIV testing and contribute to a couple approach to HIV prevention.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Epidémiologie, Centre Pasteur du Cameroun, Yaoundé, Cameroon. Tchendjou@pasteur-yaounde.org
authors.forename: Patrice Tankam
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Tchendjou
authors.forename: Paul Ndombo
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Koki
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Eboko
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Malateste
authors.forename: Angeline Ngo
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Essounga
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Amassana
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mossus
authors.forename: Mathurin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tejiokem
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boisier
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Orne-Gliemann
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012747:Sexual Partners