HIV Testing in Pregnant Women
Author Information
Author(s): Arlene D. Bardeguez, Thomas Denny, Paul Palumbo, Yvonne Wesley, James Oleske, Edward Connor, Gerson Weiss
Primary Institution: University of Medicine and Dentistry-New Jersey Medical School
Hypothesis
What is the acceptance rate of HIV testing among pregnant women in a high-prevalence area?
Conclusion
A voluntary HIV-1 counseling and testing program is well accepted in the prenatal setting and can lead to early identification of asymptomatic seropositive women.
Supporting Evidence
- 67% of women offered HIV counseling accepted testing.
- 40 new cases of HIV were identified among those tested.
- 73% of HIV-positive women were asymptomatic.
Takeaway
Most pregnant women in Newark accepted HIV testing, which helped find new cases of HIV early.
Methodology
A retrospective review of the prenatal HIV-1 counseling and testing program at University Hospital, Newark, NJ, from 1989 to 1990.
Potential Biases
Cultural attitudes may affect the acceptability of HIV testing.
Limitations
Factors influencing acceptance of HIV testing were not explored.
Participant Demographics
The majority of participants were racial or ethnic minorities, with a mean age of 30 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.009
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
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