1. HIV testing of male partners of pregnant women in Porto Alegre, Brazil: A potential strategy for reduction of HIV seroconversion during pregnancy
- Author
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Pamina M. Gorbach, Nava Yeganeh, Rosana Fonseca, Mariana Simon, Rita Lira, Breno Santos, Karin Nielsen-Saines, Ivana Varella, Claire Dillavou, and Marineide Gonçalves de Melo
- Subjects
Male ,Sexual partner ,Pediatrics ,Health (social science) ,prevention of mother-to-child transmission ,HIV Infections ,Reproductive health and childbirth ,Pregnancy ,Risk Factors ,HIV Seropositivity ,acute seroconversion ,Psychology ,Mass Screening ,Prospective Studies ,Pregnancy Complications, Infectious ,Young adult ,Pediatric ,education.field_of_study ,Obstetrics ,Infectious ,Prenatal Care ,Mental Health ,Infectious Diseases ,Sexual Partners ,Public Health and Health Services ,HIV/AIDS ,Female ,Public Health ,Infection ,Brazil ,Adult ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Social Psychology ,Sexual Behavior ,Voluntary counseling and testing ,Population ,Prenatal care ,Article ,Interviews as Topic ,Young Adult ,Clinical Research ,Behavioral and Social Science ,medicine ,Humans ,Seroconversion ,education ,Mass screening ,business.industry ,Prevention ,Public health ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,partner testing ,Pregnancy Complications ,Good Health and Well Being ,Pregnant Women ,business - Abstract
Pregnant women have a significantly higher risk of HIV acquisition during gestation than their non-pregnant counterparts due to behavioral and biological factors. Acute seroconversion during gestation results in increased HIV mother-to-child transmission rates and has been identified as a major public health challenge. In order to address potential HIV seroconversion in our pregnant patients, we conducted a prospective cohort study to evaluate the acceptability of offering HIV testing to sexual partners of HIV-negative pregnant women receiving antenatal care at two hospitals in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Over a 14-month study period, HIV-negative pregnant women at two hospital-based clinic sites were encouraged to bring their stable sexual partner for HIV voluntary counseling and testing during prenatal care. Women were re-interviewed following delivery to measure success of the intervention. Of the 1223 HIV-negative pregnant women enrolled in the study, 663 (54%) of their male sexual partners received HIV testing during antenatal care and 4 (0.6%) were diagnosed with HIV infection. A total of 645 women were interviewed at the time of delivery, with 620 (97%) confirming that HIV testing was suggested to their partner. The most common reason provided by women as to why partners did not come for testing was work (69%) and lack of perceived risk (14%). Independent predictors of successful partner testing included being white (odds ratio [OR] 1.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18-2.12), married (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.08-2.94), having an older age of sexual debut (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.9-0.98), and being recruited at Hospital Conceiçao (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.52-2.88). We conclude that HIV partner testing during prenatal care is acceptable, rendering this intervention attractive to public health programs targeting prevention of sexually transmitted infections.
- Published
- 2013