Antenatal screening for HIV in North Trinidad. Demographic characteristics of patients, acceptability of testing and the rising prevalence of infection - Poster abstract

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the acceptability of HIV screening in pregnancy and the prevalence of HIV in pregnant women in north Trinidad. DESIGN AND METHOD: All women attending an antenatal clinic at the Port of Spain General Hospital were offered HIV testing at booking. Written consent was obtained after testing counselling and blood samples were tested using an ELISA assay with positive results confirmed by western blot. Demographic data were also collected. HIV positive women/infant pairs were tested using a modified CDC - Thailand regime. RESULTS: A total of 338 new patients were seen between March and November 1999 of whom only 8 refused testing. Ten patients tested positive giving a prevalence of 3 percent. All of the HIV positive patients were of African or mixed race descent which reflected the population attending this clinic. CONCLUSION: Our data indicated a slowly rising prevalence of HIV in pregnant women in north Trinidad. The majority of patients (98 percent) easily accept screening.(AU)