Women’s willingness to be tested for human immunodeficiency virus during pregnancy: A review

Abstract

not receive prevention services. HIV testing of pregnant women is considered to be one of the key strategies for preventing mother-to-child-transmission of HIV, but HIV testing rates among pregnant women in various countries remain suboptimal. Understanding the factors relating to women's willingness to be tested for HIV during pregnancy is critical for developing strategies to increase HIV testing rates among pregnant women. Extensive research points to various factors relating to women's willingness to be tested for HIV during pregnancy, and various recommendations aimed at improving testing rates among pregnant women have been suggested based on the research. In light of the goals set by the United Nations to reduce the rate of infants infected with HIV, it is necessary to summarize what is currently known regarding factors related to women's willingness to be tested for HIV during pregnancy. The purpose of this review is therefore to examine factors related to women's willingness to be tested for HIV during pregnancy, and to summarize recommendations for practice and further research. Core tip: The willingness of women to be tested for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) during pregnancy is a complex phenomenon. There is frequent inconsistence in research results; however, studies have shown that certain major factors are steadily identified over time as associated with the phenomenon. Numerous factors related to pregnant women's willingness to be tested suggest multiple possible interventions to maximize HIV testing efficiency and increase testing rates. There is a need in further research of the phenomenon, as the majority of the research literature focuses on sub-Saharan Africa.Women's willingness to be tested for human immunodeficiency virus during pregnancy: A review Ben-Natan M, Hazanov Y. Women's willingness to be tested for human immunodeficiency virus during pregnancy: A review.

Determinants of Protective Healthcare Services Awareness among Female Syrian Refugees in Turkey

“…We also found positive and significant relationships between both the number of years spent in Turkey and the number of pregnancies and awareness of HIV testing. While in the United States and European countries, prenatal HIV testing is considered a regular part of healthcare services, rates of HIV testing among pregnant women are still low in many other countries [ 60 ]. Since women are tested for HIV in the early months of pregnancy in Turkey, this routine testing and increased time spent in Turkey may have particularly increased HIV awareness among pregnant Syrian refugees.…”

Reducing the mother-to-child transmission of HIV: findings from an early infant diagnosis program in Delta state Nigeria

“…This is confounded by several determinants of women's willingness to volunteer to do the test. 3 Progress are being made, but there is no room for complacency.…”