Routine human immunodeficiency virus infection screening of women requesting induced first-trimester abortion in an inner-city population

Article Abstract:

Although the increasing prevalence of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among women of childbearing age is well known, data do not exist regarding HIV infection in women who seek abortions. To learn more about this issue, 923 women who sought a first-trimester abortion were studied. In addition to routine blood tests, a test for HIV was performed for women who signed a special consent form. These subjects also completed an 11-item questionnaire to evaluate risk factors for HIV infection. Results showed that eight out of nine hundred twenty-two women were positive for HIV infection (seropositive). Four of the HIV-positive women reported that they had risk factors; so, too, did 108 seronegative women. Risk factors included sex with men from Haiti and use of 'crack' cocaine. Five percent of the women who were seronegative also reported cocaine use. The rate of HIV infection in these women (just under 1 percent) is lower than rates reported for women seeking abortion in New York City, probably because these women were tested in Atlanta, Georgia, where the prevalence of HIV infection is lower. Although many women who learn their HIV test results terminate their pregnancies, there remain many who do not. Since many young women at risk for AIDS have little contact with health professionals, prenatal care visits should include discussion of ways women can reduce their risk of contracting HIV infection. The most effective way to prevent infection of infants with HIV is to educate nonpregnant woman regarding both the reduction of risk for HIV infection, and the prevention of unwanted pregnancy. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Statistics, Georgia, Atlanta, Georgia, Abortion counseling

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Determinants of acceptance of routine voluntary human immunodeficiency virus testing in an inner-city prenatal population

Article Abstract:

To learn more about the characteristics of women who accepted routine voluntary testing for infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a study was carried out among inner-city women who attended a public clinic in Atlanta, Georgia for prenatal care. HIV is the causative agent of AIDS. Counseling about and testing for HIV were offered to all patients; counseling consisted of a 30-minute small-group session during which the HIV antibody test was explained. Patients completed questionnaires to assess risk factors for infection. Demographic information was also obtained. Of 4,731 women who registered for prenatal care, 4,574 (97 percent) consented to HIV testing (accepters) and 157 (3 percent) declined. The study focussed on 188 accepters and 140 decliners. Most women in each group said they did not feel pressured to undergo HIV testing. A greater proportion of accepters were under 25 years of age, black and single. A greater proportion of decliners had received more than 12 years of formal education. The risk behavior of the two groups did not differ; 12 percent of accepters and 10 percent of decliners reported behaviors that placed them at risk for HIV infection. Ninety-one percent of the accepters said the HIV counseling session had been valuable, compared with 91 percent of the decliners. Decliners were more likely than accepters to believe HIV-infected people can be identified by the way they look. The results show that a great majority of women attending an inner-city prenatal clinic consider HIV counseling and voluntary testing important parts of prenatal care. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Diagnosis, Testing, Medical screening, Health screening, Prenatal diagnosis, Urban women

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Routine human immunodeficiency virus infection screening in unregistered and registered inner-city parturients

Article Abstract:

The 5 percent of pregnant women who wait until very late in their pregnancies to seek care or who do not receive any prenatal care at all are at a high risk for a problematic outcome. Most of these women also possess characteristics indicating they are also at risk for HIV infection. Few studies have examined HIV infection rates in women based on whether or not they sought prenatal care. This study examined the results of voluntary HIV screening of pregnant women that either did or did not seek prenatal care. During the one-year study period, 964 unregistered and 6,653 registered women gave birth at one hospital. Of these women, 96 percent of the registered and 86.5 percent of the unregistered women consented to HIV screening, and most completed questionnaires regarding risk behavior. Of the unregistered women, 12 (1.4 percent) were HIV-infected, while 26 (0.4 percent) of the registered women were. Results of the questionnaire showed that 14.3 percent of the unregistered and 9.9 percent of the registered women reported risk factors for HIV infection. Characteristics of the HIV-infected women were similar regardless of group. These results indicate that in the inner city, pregnant women who do not register for prenatal care are more likely to be HIV-infected and to have risk factors for infection than are registered pregnant women. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Demographic aspects, Diseases, Prenatal care, HIV seroprevalence

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