title: Factors Associated with HIV Testing History among Pregnant Women and Their Partners in Georgia: The ANRS 12127 Prenahtest Trial.
abstract: Despite the benefits of timely diagnosis of HIV infection and the wide availability of VCT services, the acceptance of HIV testing and counseling still remains a challenge in Georgia. The goal of our study was to assess the history of HIV testing and associated factors among pregnant women. The recruitment of study participants took place during routine antenatal care visits at one of the large Maternity Hospitals in Tbilisi, capital of Georgia. A total of 491 pregnant women were included in the sample. More than a third of women (38.5%) reported that they were tested for HIV before the current pregnancy and almost all of them (91.5%) were tested during previous pregnancies. Bivariate analysis revealed statistically significant association of women's history of HIV testing with age, education level, remunerated activity, history of STI, and multiparity. In multivariate analysis, the only independent predictor of being HIV tested was ever being pregnant. In conclusion, HIV testing history among women at reproductive age was poor in Georgia. Women mostly received HIV testing at prenatal centers. Efforts should be made to promote HIV testing in primary care settings, which would increase its acceptability and overall testing rate in the population.
authors.affiliation: Health Research Union, 8 Nutsubidze Street, 0177 Tbilisi, Georgia.
authors.forename: Maia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Butsashvili
authors.affiliation: Health Research Union, 8 Nutsubidze Street, 0177 Tbilisi, Georgia.
authors.forename: Maia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kajaia
authors.affiliation: Health Research Union, 8 Nutsubidze Street, 0177 Tbilisi, Georgia.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kamkamidze
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Epidémiologie, Centre Pasteur du Cameroun, BP 1274, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tchendjou
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, CEPED UMR, Université Paris Descartes (Sorbonne Paris Cité)-INED-IRD, 221 boulevard Davout, 75020 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Annabel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Desgrees du Loû
authors.affiliation: Centre INSERM U897 "Epidémiologie et Biostatistique", INSERM, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux, France ; Institut de Santé Publique Epidémiologie Développement (ISPED), Université Bordeaux Segalen, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dabis
authors.affiliation: Centre INSERM U897 "Epidémiologie et Biostatistique", INSERM, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux, France ; Institut de Santé Publique Epidémiologie Développement (ISPED), Université Bordeaux Segalen, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Orne-Gliemann