HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Anderson, J. E. Articles by Sansom, S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Anderson, J. E. Articles by Sansom, S. Related Collections Infectious disease Other Pediatrics/neonatology Prenatal Diagnosis

Women’s Knowledge About Treatment to Prevent Mother-to-Child Human Immunodeficiency Virus Transmission

From the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.

Address reprint requests to: John E. Anderson, PhD, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, CDC/MS E-46, Atlanta GA 30333; e-mail: jea1{at}cdc.gov.

OBJECTIVE: To provide national estimates of knowledge about treatments available to reduce mother-to-infant human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission among U.S. women of childbearing age.

METHODS: We used data from 55,712 women aged 18 to 44 years who responded to questions on antiretroviral treatment in the 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. We obtained the percentage of women who correctly answered a question on treatment to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV and determined factors independently associated with such knowledge using a multiple logistic regression model.

RESULTS: Overall, the percentage of women who correctly stated that treatment existed to help prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV was 58.6% (95% confidence interval 57.9, 59.3). In the multiple logistic regression model that controlled for sociodemographics, having correct knowledge about treatment to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission was independently associated with being black, younger age (18–34 years), college level education, and having been tested for HIV. Current pregnancy was not an independent predictor of having knowledge about the availability of treatment to prevent mother-to-child transmission.

CONCLUSION: Among US women of childbearing age, just over one half had correct knowledge of effective perinatal HIV prevention strategies. Increasing the awareness of these treatments may lead to greater uptake of HIV testing among pregnant women.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III