Barriers for HIV testing during pregnancy in Southern Brazil

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:To assess HIV testing rate and determine risk factors for not have been tested during pregnancy. METHODS:A cross-sectional study was carried out in Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil, from December 2000 to February 2001. Socioeconomic, maternal and healthcare variables were obtained by means of a standardized questionnaire. Crude and adjusted odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were obtained in logistic regression models. RESULTS:A total of 1,642 mothers were interviewed. Of them, 94.3% reported being offered HIV testing before or during pregnancy or during labor; 89 mothers (5.4%) were not tested or did not know if they were tested. Attending fewer than six prenatal visits, being single and younger than 18 years old were relevant barriers preventing HIV testing. There was found a relationship between maternal schooling and the category of prenatal care provider. Having low 22.20 (12.43-39.67) or high 3.38 (1.86-7.68). schooling and being cared in the private sector strongly reduced the likelihood of being HIV tested. CONCLUSIONS:The Brazilian Health Ministry's recommendation for universal counseling and HIV testing has been successfully implemented in the public sector. In order to improve HIV testing coverage, new strategies need to target women cared in the private sector especially those of low schooling.

Determinants for refusal of HIV testing among women attending for antenatal care in Gambella Region, Ethiopia

“…This is consistent with a study conducted in Vietnam and other countries which indicated that pregnant women who worry about their husband reaction in case he learnt that they were tested positive were refusing HIV testing during their ANC visit [18-20]. Moreover, our study finding is consistent with a study conducted in Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and Vietnam.…”

Utilization of HIV testing services among pregnant mothers in low income primary care settings in northern Ethiopia: a cross sectional study

“…Our study also showed that pregnant women who attended secondary education or above were more likely to be tested for HIV compared with pregnant women who did not attend formal education, consistent with previous studies in Nigeria and Tanzania that showed an association between higher educational level and HIV testing [7, 9]. However other studies level of education was a statistically significant factor for HIV testing [25, 26].…”

HIV testing among pregnant women in Brazil: rates and predictors

“…Similar rates of acceptance were also found in other studies conducted in Brazil, including when HIV testing was offered during labor. 6,9,12 The wide availability of free HIV prevention and care services in Brazil, which includes highly potent antiretroviral therapy and HIV testing, as well as the policy of universal offering of HIV testing to pregnant women would be among the several factors contributing to the high rate of HIV testing acceptance seen in the present study.…”

“…A large study conducted in Porto Alegre for one year during the same period covered by the present study also found a high proportion of unawareness of being tested/compulsory HIV testing. 9 The literature review we carried out did not fi nd any study in the other three cities adressing the issue of compulsory HIV testing. In a study performed in Spain to compare self-reporting with medical record information regarding HIV testing, unawareness of having been tested was found in 10.7% of the study population.…”