| Learning Objective #1: Explore women's perceived risk and risk management of suspect HIV infection | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Explore women's preference on HIV screening |
A study of Hong Kong Chinese pregnant women's perceived risk and risk management of HIV/AIDS, and their Preference of HIV Screening
LOKE, Alice Yuen RN, BSN, MN. PhD HO, Choi Fung RN, BSN, MSc (Health Care)
ABSTRACT
Background & Aims: Little is known about women's perceived risk, risk management of suspect HIV infection, and opinions about screening test in Hong Kong. This study aims to explore pregnant women's perceived risks, risk management behaviour, and their preference of Hong Kong Chinese pregnant women on HIV screening.
Methods: A cross-sectional study. All Chinese pregnant women who attended an antenatal clinic of a regional hospital in Hong Kong in the month of December 2000 were invited to complete a questionnaire.
Findings: About 36.7% of all pregnant women perceived risk of contracting HIV. Only eight believe that 'HIV infection was not their concern'. If HIV infection were suspected, over 70% of women would take HIV screening together with their spouse. If confirmed of infection, only 24% will consider termination of their pregnancy.
Women with lower education (OR= 0.24; 95% C.I, 0.08-0.73), with presence of risky behaviour (OR=4.38; 95% C.I., 0.95-20.26) and those perceived to have HIV infection risk are more likely to undertake the newly proposed antenatal HIV screening in Hong Kong. As much as 78.5% and 72.8% of women believe HIV screening should be tested before marriage and planning for pregnancy respectively instead of current antenatal screening practice.
Recommendations: Health educators should provide education programmes for women at risk to enhance their knowledge on mother-to-child HIV transmission, and to promote their awareness on safe sex. Although, identification of HIV infected pregnant women by antenatal screening is crucial to prevent mother-to-child transmission, health policy makers are suggested to explore the possibility of providing pre-marriage and pre-pregnancy HIV screening for women.
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