Abstract
Identification of HIV-infected pregnant women by antenatal screening is crucial to prevent mother-to-child transmission. In Hong Kong, little is known about women's opinions about the screening test. This cross-sectional study examines the decisions of Hong Kong Chinese pregnant women to undergo antenatal HIV screening and the reasons for their choices. Among 191 pregnant women studied, 147 (77.0%) indicated that they would opt for antenatal HIV screening if offered. Of those, 113 (76.9%) would do so for 'the health of their newborns' and 93 (63.3%) for 'their own health'. Fourteen (7.3%) would decline the test, because they have 'one stable sexual partner' (n = 9, 64.3%) and believe that 'HIV infection was not their concern' (n = 8, 57.1%). Women with a lower educational attainment (adjusted OR = 3.77; 95% C.I., 1.12-12.67, p = 0.03) were likely to choose antenatal HIV screening. Results of this study are predictive of pregnant women's responses to Hong Kong's newly enacted antenatal HIV screening programme.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 821-827 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Dec 2003 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Health(social science)
- Social Psychology
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
