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 HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Yudin, M. H. Articles by Shah, R. R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Yudin, M. H. Articles by Shah, R. R. Related Collections Infectious disease

Influence of an "Opt-Out" Test Strategy and Patient Factors on Human Immunodeficiency Virus Screening in Pregnancy

From the ¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing acceptance rates in pregnancy using an opt-out policy and patient characteristics influencing acceptance.

METHODS: At the first prenatal visit, HIV testing was offered using an opt-out approach. Reasons for refusing testing were explored. Demographic information was collected on all study subjects.

RESULTS: In the prospective portion of the study, 1,140 of 1,233 women (92.5%) accepted testing. Race was predictive of accepting HIV testing, with Asian women significantly less likely (odds ratio [OR] 0.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.3–0.6; P<.001) and Hispanic women significantly more likely (OR 6.9; 95% CI 2.2–22.0; P=.001) to be tested. Although English as a first language, country of birth, and insurance status were not significantly associated with acceptance, women who were fluent in English were more likely to be tested (OR 2.0; 95% CI 1.2–3.3; P=.01). Our testing rates were significantly higher than the provincial average.

CONCLUSION: Using an opt-out strategy, HIV testing rates in our clinic were significantly higher than the provincial average. Rates were influenced by race and fluency in English.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT00393302

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. K. Van der Bij, N. H. T. M. Dukers, R. A. Coutinho, and H. S. A Fennema Low HIV-testing rates and awareness of HIV infection among high-risk heterosexual STI clinic attendees in The Netherlands Eur J Public Health, March 31, 2008; (2008) ckm120v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]