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- Title
Potential Factors That May Affect Acceptance of Routine Prenatal HIV Testing.
- Authors
Fu-Lin Wang; Larke, Bryce; Gabos, Stephan; Hanrahan, Anita; Schopflocher, Donald
- Abstract
Background: Despite increasing advocacy for an "opt-out" strategy in routine prenatal HIV screening programs in Canada, no published studies have examined factors that may affect acceptance of prenatal HIV testing. Methods: We included all pregnant women in Alberta who received prenatal care (N=38,712) and their caregivers (N=2,007) between January 1 and November 30, 2000. Factors associated with non-acceptance of HIV testing in both pregnant women and their caregivers were assessed using multivariate logistic regression. Results: Overall, 1 .5% of women declined HIV testing. First Nations women were about twice as likely to decline the test (adjusted odds ratio [ORadj] 1.91, 95% CI [1.42-2.58]) compared to non-First Nations women (p<0.001). The proportion also increased with age (χ²trend p<0.001) in the general population. In First Nations women, however, most (3.2%) declined in the 20-24 year age group. No significant effect was seen for a socio-economic status marker or for the place of residence. The caregivers of women who declined HIV testing were more likely to be female (ORadj 1.56 [1.28-1.89]), midwives (ORadj 140.65 [58.61-337.49]), other non-obstetrical medical specialties (ORadj 4.92 [1.94-12.47]), and general practitioners (ORadj 3.44 [1.87-6.33]). Conclusion: in an "opt-out" routine prenatal HIV screening program, the characteristics of both the pregnant women and their caregivers may contribute to the non-acceptance of HIV testing. A higher likelihood of declining HIV testing among First Nations pregnant women and other pregnant women under the care of midwives and female physicians warrants further study.
- Subjects
CANADA; HIV-positive women; PREGNANT women; PRENATAL care; MEDICAL screening; CAREGIVERS
- Publication
Canadian Journal of Public Health, 2005, Vol 96, Issue 1, p60
- ISSN
0008-4263
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/bf03404020