Abstract
To describe the trend in the reasons for and result of women's HIV testing, systematic data was gathered for 11, 523 consecutive women during pre- and post-test visits at a major counseling and testing (CT) site of Rome, Italy, June 1985–July 1996. The number of tested women and the proportion of female clients attending the CT site significantly increased during the study period (p < 0.001), mostly because of reported sexual risk or when triggered by pregnancy. A significant increasing trend in the proportion of women who had one prior test (30% overall) was observed in all groups, apart from IDU. Newly diagnosed HIV infections were 319 (2.8%). The HIV prevalence was 27% in 1985–1987, when 66.7% of cases were IDUs, and decreased to 1.3% in 1994–1996, when 53.7% of cases were women reporting HIV infected partners.
The findings suggest that information on the potential risk of HIV transmission has permeated the female population. The shift of newly diagnosed infections from IDUs towards women reporting sexual exposure, suggests the need for targeting preventive efforts to these population groups. Underlying reasons for multiple testing need further analysis.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Quinn TC. Global burden of the HIV pandemic. Lancet 1996; 348: 99–106.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Public Health Service Guidelines for counseling and antibody testing to prevent HIV infection and AIDS. MMWR 1987; 36: 509–514.
Carboni A, Davoli M, Peano M, Porta D, Perucci CA. Sistema di sorveglianza e controllo dell' AIDS e delle infezioni da HIV. Assessorato salvaguardia e cura della salute — Osservatorio epidemiologico Regione Lazio. Bollettino n. 5; 31 dicembre 1996.
Girardi E, Puro V, Colaiacomo M, et al. Counseling and testing for HIV infection in Rome 1985–1990: Analysis of client characteristics and seroprevalence. Eur J Epidemiol 1993; 9: 162–168.
Commissione Nazionale per la Lotta contro l'AIDS. Aggiornamento dei casi di AIDS conclamato notificati in Italia al 31/06/1996. Ministero della sanita'—Roma, Giugno 1996. Giornale Italiano dell'AIDS 1996; 7(2): 61–62.
Ippolito G, Stegagno M, Girardi E, Costa F, Ravà L, Aebisher ML, Guzzanti E, and the Italian talian Collaborative Study Group for HIV prevalence in newborns et al. Temporal and geographical trends of anti-HIV-l antibodies screening among newborns in Italy , 1990-1993. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr and Human Retrovirol 1996; 12: 63–68
Girardi E, Puro V, Colaiacomo M, Schito S, Ippolito G, Pallotta G. Impatto della campagna nazionale di informazione sull'AIDS sulla richiesta di counseling e di test sierologico per HIV. Giornale Italiano dell'AIDS 1991; 2: 169–172.
Griffith R, Mandalia S, Beck EJ, et al. HIV media campaigns and HIV testing trend at a London genitourinary medicine clinic, 1985–1993. AIDS 1995; 9: 1367–1372.
Connor EM, Sperling RS, Gelber R, et al. for the Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group Protocol 076 Study Group. Reduction of maternal-infant transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 with zidovudine treatment. N Engl J Med 1994; 331: 1173–1180.
McDonald, Gertig DM, Crofts N, Kaldor JM, for the National HIV Surveillance Commitee. A national surveillance system for newly acquired HIV infection in Australia. Am J Public Health 1994; 84: 1923–1928.
Haverkos HW, Quinn TC. The third wave: HIV infection among heterosexuals in the United States and Europe. Int J STD AIDS 1995; 6: 227–232.
Valdiserri RO, Moore M, Gerber AR, Campbell CH, Dillon BA, West GR. A study of clients returning for counseling after HIV testing: Implications for improving rates of return. Public Health Reports 1993; 108: 12–18.
Irwin KL, Valdiserri RO, Holmberg SD. The acceptability of voluntary HIV antibody testing in the United States: A decade of lessons learned. AIDS 1996; 10: 1707–1717.
Carpenter CCJ, Fischl MA, Hammer SM, et al. Antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection in 1997. Updated recommendations of the International Society-USA panel. JAMA 1997; 277: 1962–1969
Solomon L, Moore J, Gleghorn A, Astemborski J, Vlahov D. HIV testing bahaviors in a population of Inner-City women at high risk for HIV infection. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 1996; 13: 267–272.
Lckovics JR, Morrill AC, Beren SE, Walsh U, Rodin J. Limited effects of HIV counseling and testing for women: A prospective study of behavioral and psychological consequences. JAMA 1994; 272: 443–448.
Heise LL, Elias CJ. Transforming AIDS prevention to meet women's needs: A focus on developing countries. Soc Sci Med 1994; 40: 931–943.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Puro, V., D'Ubaldo, C., Aloisi, M.S. et al. Temporal trends in reasons for and result of HIV-testing among women in Rome, Italy. Eur J Epidemiol 14, 433–437 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007422714701
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007422714701