AEGiS-APPJ: U.S. Pregant Women's Perceptions of Universal, Routine Prenatal HIV Testing

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

U.S. Pregant Women's Perceptions of Universal, Routine Prenatal HIV Testing

AIDS & Public Policy Journal 18, no. 3/4 (Fall/Winter 2003) 82-96
Sohini Sengupta and Bernard Lo

OBJECTIVE: This study explored U.S. pregnant women's perceptions of universal, routine prenatal HIV testing, a health policy change recommended by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in 1999. The policy would eliminate offering an HIV test, separate informed consent, and pre-test counseling.

METHODS: We conducted 73 in-person interviews with African-American and Hispanic pregnant women at prenatal clinics in San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Chapel Hill, N.C. The interview instrument elicited experiences about current prenatal HIV testing procedures and opinions about routine prenatal HIV testing. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and read for content analysis and themes.

RESULTS: Under current prenatal HIV testing procedures, only 58 percent of the participants were asked by their careprovider if they wanted to be tested, and 49 percent were given pre-test counseling. When asked about their opinions on routine prenatal HIV testing, 63 percent liked it overall because more pregnant women would be tested, but 66 percent were concerned because pre-test counseling was not required. Almost 50 percent wanted pregnant women to be told explicitly that they were being tested for HIV.

CONCLUSION: In conclusion, these study findings will be useful to understand the importance of continuing to educate women about HIV and pregnancy in clinics that are moving toward the implementation of routine prenatal HIV testing as their standard of care.
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