BMJ 1999;318:1660-1661 ( 19 June )

Papers

Antenatal HIV testing: assessment of a routine voluntary approach

Papers pp   1650 , 1656

Wendy M Simpson, research psychologist ^a,  Frank D Johnstone, consultant obstetrician and senior lecturer ^a,  David J Goldberg, deputy director ^b,  Siobhan M Gormley, research midwife ^a,  Graham J Hart, assistant director ^c. 

^a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Centre for Reproductive Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH3 9EW, ^b Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health, Clifton House, Glasgow G3 7LN, ^c MRC Medical Sociology Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8RZ

Correspondence to: Dr W M Simpson, 22 Lumsden Park, Cupar, Fife KY15 5YL wendy@lumsdenpark.freeserve.co.uk

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The benefits of testing pregnant women for HIV are increasingly assured, particularly with regard to reducing vertical transmission.¹ Yet uptake of antenatal HIV testing in Britain remains low.² Our previous study examined an opt-in approach (women had to make an active choice to be tested).³ Some women were uncomfortable with this, feeling that it indicated high risk behaviour. We therefore assessed an approach based on similar requirements for information and consent but with a change in emphasis, in that testing was routine unless the woman declined.

	Subjects, methods, and results

The testing programme was conducted during February to April 1998. Before their booking appointment, all women were sent a leaflet about blood tests to be conducted, including HIV testing. At the antenatal clinic they were offered an HIV test by midwives who had been trained to use a printed discussion protocol that emphasised the benefits and presented the test as routine, making it clear that . . . [Full text of this article]

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Antenatal HIV testing: a routine voluntary approach

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