title: Knowledge, attitudes and intended behaviours towards HIV testing and self-protection: a survey of Omani pregnant women.
abstract: Routine HIV testing of all pregnant women in Oman has been introduced without prior knowledge of women's attitudes towards testing or their behaviour in the event of a positive test. This study recruited 1000 Omani pregnant women from antenatal clinics to explore their knowledge of HIV/AIDS, attitudes towards HIV testing and intended behaviours in the event of a positive test. Mother-to-child transmission was recognized by 86.6% of the women but only 21.0% knew that it was preventable and a few acknowledged the important role of antiviral drugs. Half of the women (51.9%) reported having been tested for HIV and 75.8% agreed about routine HIV testing for all pregnant women. A higher level of knowledge was significantly associated with a favourable intended behaviour related to voluntary testing, disclosure and seeking professional assistance in the event of a positive HIV test. The results are discussed in relation to opt-in and opt-out approaches to voluntary testing during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Al-Jabri
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Youssef
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Hasson
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Medicine, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Balkhair
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Belushi
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Saadoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mathew
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Mahroqi
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Said
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Idris
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D009850:Oman; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents