Acceptability and feasibility of serial HIV antibody testing during pregnancy/postpartum and male partner testing in Tororo, Uganda

AIDS Care. 2014;26(3):360-6. doi: 10.1080/09540121.2013.824536. Epub 2013 Aug 2.

Abstract

Our objective was to determine whether serial HIV testing during pregnancy and the postpartum period as well as male partner testing are acceptable and feasible in Tororo, Uganda. This was a prospective study of pregnant women at the Tororo District Hospital (TDH) Antenatal Clinic. Patients presenting for routine antenatal care were asked to participate in a serial HIV testing integrated into standard antenatal and postpartum/child immunization visits, and to invite their male partners for HIV testing. Serial testing was defined as ≥2 tests during pregnancy and ≥2 tests within 24 weeks postpartum. Of the 214 enrolled women, 80 (37%) completed serial testing, 176 (82%) had ≥2 tests, and 147 (69%) had ≥3 tests during the study period. One hundred eighty-two women (85%) accepted male partner testing, but only 19 men (10%) participated. One woman seroconverted during the study, for a cumulative HIV incidence of 0.5% (1/214). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, longer distance between home and clinic (aOR 0.87 [95% CI 0.79-0.97]) and not knowing household income (aOR 0.30 [95% CI 0.11-0.84]) were predictive of not completing serial testing. Higher level of education was associated with completing serial testing (linear trend p value = 0.05). In conclusion, partial serial HIV testing was highly acceptable and feasible, but completion of serial testing and male partner testing had poor uptake.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Female
  • HIV Antibodies / analysis*
  • HIV Seropositivity / diagnosis*
  • HIV Seropositivity / psychology
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Humans
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / prevention & control*
  • Male
  • Mass Screening* / psychology
  • Mass Screening* / statistics & numerical data
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / psychology
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / statistics & numerical data*
  • Postpartum Period
  • Pregnancy
  • Prospective Studies
  • Sexual Partners* / psychology
  • Uganda / epidemiology

Substances

  • HIV Antibodies