14th Annual Conference of the British HIV Association 23-25 April 2008, Belfast

IMPROVING ACCESS TO HIV TESTING BY A SCREENING PROGRAMME IN ABORTION CLINICS

HIV Med 2008; 9(Suppl. 1):11 (abstract no. P4)

KJ Adams¹, E Morris², A Newton³, R Meigh⁴, H Thaker¹ and K Guthrie^2
1 Infectious Diseases Department, Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, UK, ² Gynaecology Department, Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, UK, ³ Public Health Department, East Yorkshire and Humberside, UK, ⁴ Virology Department, Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, UK

BACKGROUND: It is estimated that between a third and half of people living with HIV are unaware of their diagnosis. In 2007 there was much debate about normalisation of HIV testing in an attempt to reach these people. Following on from this and also as a result of a marked increase in antenatal detection of HIV locally, the Health Protection Unit felt it appropriate to offer HIV screening to women attending for abortions in the Hull and East Yorkshire Trust. After running educational sessions for the Gynaecology Department an opt-in screening programme was set up in June 2007. Hull is a relatively socially deprived area, with high teenage pregnancy rates but relatively low HIV rates making it an interesting setting for such a programme.

METHODS: Demographic data, information on take up of HIV screening or reasons for refusing screening were all collected prospectively. This data was analysed after the first 6 months.

RESULTS:A total of 768 women were seen in the abortion service. The take up of screening improved throughout the six month period from 43% to 89%. The initial low take up was in part due to staff inhibitions about talking about HIV. This was improved by an ongoing education and support programme for staff. Only 1 woman was found to be HIV positive. Women refusing testing tended to be older, in stable relationships or had recently been screened antenatally. Without the added incentive of the baby, women would often refuse testing if they didn't feel they had put themselves at risk.

CONCLUSIONS: As far we are aware we are one of only very few units offering such a programme. Despite initial problems with introducing HIV screening into an area where it is not usually discussed we have shown that it is possible to run a successful programme. Our findings have implications for future screening programmes in clincal areas where HIV isn't usually broached.

2008-04-23
P4

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