Abstract
Objective
A known HIV status is the most important step in preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV and screening for HIV is recommended by German prenatal guidelines. In our study, we wanted to ascertain the prevalence of HIV-testing in a pregnant inner-city cohort.
Methods
Prenatal records of 279 women were prospectively studied, and the testing confirmed with the prenatal care providers.
Results
82.4 % of the patients had been tested for HIV during pregnancy. The test was refused by 4.0 % of the women. Contrary to current guidelines, in more than half of the cases documentation of the test or the result was found in the women’s prenatal care papers.
Conclusions
Even though a large majority of pregnant women are screened for HIV, the rates of testing need to be increased. Education of patients and providers as well as changing to the “opt-out” approach used in other countries may prevent unnecessary mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Robert-Koch-Institut (2012) HIV-Infektionen/AIDS: Jahresbericht 2011. Epidemiologisches Bulletin 28:255–274
Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss: Tragende Gründe zum Beschluss des gemeinsamen Bundesausschusses über eine Änderung der Mutterschafts-Richtlinien: Merkblatt HIV-Screening. http://www.g-ba.de/downloads/40-268-431/2007-09-13-Mutter-HIV-TrGr.pdf. Accessed November 15, 2012
Connor EM, Sperling RS, Gelber R et al (1994) Reduction of maternal-infant transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 with zidovudine treatment. Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group Protocol 076 Study Group. N Engl J Med 331:1173–1180
Warszawski J, Tubiana R, Le Chenadec J et al (2008) Mother-to-child transmission despite antiretroviral therapy in the ANRS French Perinatal Cohort. AIDS 22:289–299
Warpakowski A (2008). Zahl der Transmissionen zu hoch. Dtsch Arztebl 105:A 1054
Bundesausschuss der Ärzte und Krankenkassen: Richtlinien über die ärztliche Betreuung während der Schwangerschaft und nach der Entbindung („Mutterschafts-Richtlinien“). Fassung vom 10.12.1985, zuletzt geändert am 26.07.2012. http://www.g-ba.de/downloads/62-492-630/Mu-RL_2012-07-26.pdf. Accessed November 15, 2012
Porip N, Dudenhausen JW, Gingelmaier A et al (2010) HIV-Testung in der Schwangerenvorsorge. Vergleich der Testsituation vor und nach Änderung der Mutterschaftsrichtlinien im Dezember 2007. Geburtsh Frauenheilk 70:294–297
Kost BP, Gingelmaier A, Kainer F et al (2011) HIV-testing in pregnancy: are we testing enough? Arch Gynecol Obstet 284:357–360
Marcus U (2011) HIV-Test zur Prävention. HIV&more 1:21–25
Yudin MH, Moravac C, Shah RR (2007) Influence of an “opt-out” test strategy and patient factors on human immunodeficiency virus screening in pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol 110:81–86
Simpson WM, Johnstone FD, Goldberg DJ et al (1999) Antenatal HIV testing: assessment of a routine voluntary approach. BMJ 318:1660–1661
Conflict of interest
All authors declare that we have no conflict of interest.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pauly, F., Freese, AL., Golic, M. et al. Testing for HIV during pregnancy: 5 years after changing German pregnancy guidelines. Arch Gynecol Obstet 288, 29–32 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-013-2744-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-013-2744-9