Background: To study trends in HIV testing among pregnant women before and after the introduction of mandatory screening in January 1993.
Methods: The study was based on data from the Prevagest surveys which were carried out in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in samples of pregnant women who just delivered in 1992 (n = 2,775) and 1994 (n = 2,701).
Results: The proportion of women declaring that they had been tested during pregnancy increased from 63% in 1992 to 73% in 1994 (p < 0.001). The percentage of women who believe they were tested without consent decreased from 14% in 1992 to 6% in 1994 (p < 0.001). In 1994, 86% nevertheless declared that they received no information on AIDS and its prevention during their pregnancy. After adjustment by a logistic model, type of prenatal care and educational level longer appeared in 1994 to be associated with a lower probability of declaring having been tested. On the contrary, women originating from North Africa, those younger than 25 years and married women had a lower probability of declaring that they have been tested in 1994 as well as 1992.
Conclusions: This study stresses the need for improved communication between public health professionals and practitioners and the establishment of effective training programs in HIV preventive counselling for health professionals in charge of prenatal care.