Early HIV Testing and Counseling for Pregnant Women in Vietnam
Author Information
Author(s): Hạnh Nguyễn Thị Thúy, Gammeltoft Tine, Rasch Vibeke
Primary Institution: Hanoi Medical University
Hypothesis
Can early uptake of HIV testing and counseling among pregnant women be improved by scaling up services at primary health facilities?
Conclusion
Antenatal HIV counseling and testing can be effectively enhanced at primary health facilities, leading to earlier testing and better counseling provision.
Supporting Evidence
- 91.0% of women attended antenatal care.
- 90.3% of women were tested for HIV during their most recent pregnancy.
- Women at primary health facilities were significantly more likely to be tested before 34 weeks of gestation.
Takeaway
This study shows that pregnant women are more likely to get tested for HIV early if they go to primary health facilities, where they also receive better counseling.
Methodology
A community-based study using structured interviews to collect data on socio-economic background, reproductive history, and experiences with HIV counseling and testing.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to self-reported data on HIV testing without formal verification.
Limitations
The findings may not be generalizable to all of Vietnam due to the specific context of the pilot site.
Participant Demographics
Women aged 15-49, with a mean age of 28.2 years; 60% aged 25-34; diverse socio-economic backgrounds.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
CI: 18.9-98.1
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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