Frequentemente, o Ministério da Saúde publica diretrizes para o enfrentamento da epidemia da Aids. Para reduzir a transmissão vertical e ampliar o diagnóstico do HIV, algumas regiões do Brasil implantaram o Teste Rápido Anti-HIV Diagnóstico, com atuações importantes do enfermeiro relacionadas a essa metodologia. Observa-se a necessidade de estudos analisando o exercício do profissional de enfermagem na solicitação, realização, interpretação e comunicação do resultado dessa testagem às parturientes e/ou puérperas. Este ensaio reflete sobre a temática, sendo útil aos profissionais de enfermagem envolvidos no atendimento às gestantes e seus bebês, aprimorando a qualidade do pré-natal e a redução da transmissão vertical do HIV.Descritores: Exercício da Enfermagem, Gestantes, Parturientes, Transmissão Vertical, Teste Rápido Anti-HIV Diagnóstico.The activities of the nurse related to the anti-HIV Quick Diagnostic Test: a reflection that interests nursing and public healthFrequently, the Ministry of Health publishes guidelines to the tackling of the Aids epidemic. In order to reduce the vertical transmission and the diagnostic expansion of the HIV, some regions of Brazil have implemented the Anti-HIV Quick Diagnostic Test, and nurses have an important role in this methodology. The necessity of studies that analyze the exercise of the nursing professional during the requesting, realization and notification of these tests to the pregnant or pos-pregnant woman can be noted. This essay meditates about the thematic, being useful to the nursing staff involved in the caring of pregnant women and their babies, improving the quality of prenatal care and the reduction of HIV’s vertical transmission.Descriptors: Nursing Practice, Pregnant Woman, Pos-Pregnant Woman, Vertical Transmission, Anti-HIV Quick Diagnostic Test.Prácticas de enfermería relacionadas a pruebas rápidas para diagnóstico de HIV: una reflexión de interés para la enfermería y la salud pública A menudo, el Ministerio de Salud publica directrices para hacer frente a la epidemia del SIDA. Para reducir la transmisión vertical del HIV y la expansión del diagnóstico, algunas regiones del Brasil implantaron la prueba rápida de diagnóstico de HIV donde las enfermeras desarrollan un papel muy importante en la metodología. Se constata la necesidad de estúdios que analicen el desempeño del personal de enfermería en la solicitud, realización y comunicación de los resultados de estos exámenes a mujeres embarazadas y / o mujeres después del parto. Este ensayo es una reflexión sobre el tema que debe servir a los profesionales de enfermería involucrados en dar asistencia a las mujeres embarazadas y sus bebés, a fin de mejorar la calidad del cuidado prenatal y reducir la transmisión vertical del HIV.Descriptores: Práctica de la Enfermería, Mujer Embarazada, Parturienta, Transmisión Vertical, Diagnóstico Rápido de HIV.

Introduction: Prevalence of HIV seropositivity among pregnant women in Distrito Federal, Brazil, is unknown. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of HIV infection among parturient women and to describe the coverage of serology testing during prenatal care and delivery in the public health system of Distrito Federal, Brazil. Methods: Cross-sectional study, in which the variables sociodemographic data, information on prenatal care, and outcomes in HIV serology were collected from prenatal care cards and medical records of pregnant women residing in the Distrito Federal, whose deliveries occurred in public maternities between June 2009 and May 2010. The parturient was considered seropositive if a test was done with a confirmatory technique. Results: We studied 3,726 parturient women, of whom 3,627 (97.3%) had information about the outcome of HIV testing. Twelve ones were detected as HIV positive, representing a prevalence of 0.33% (95%CI: 0.19-0.58). The prevalence analysis by race/skin color, education level, and age range variables showed no statistically significant differences. The proportion of parturient women who presented the mother's card was 94.6%. Coverage with two HIV tests in prenatal care was 22.1%. Conclusion: The prevalence of HIV seropositivity among pregnant women in public maternities in Distrito Federal is not significantly different from that estimated for Brazil. The coverage of testing for HIV was low.