HIV screening in pregnancy: what women think

To describe the experience of screening for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in pregnancy from the perspective of pregnant women.

A descriptive study using a sample of pregnant women who had been offered prenatal HIV screening. Women participated in semistructured interviews. Transcripts of the interviews were analyzed using a combination of grounded theory and content analysis to describe their experience of this screening practice.

Women were recruited from tertiary care hospitals, a family practice unit, and a community health center in a western Canadian city.

Thirty-two pregnant women who ranged in age from 16 to 40 years. Of those interviewed, 21 consented to screening and 11 declined.

The thirty-two women who shared their thoughts and feelings all differed in their recollections and opinions. Some were not offended by the idea of mandatory screening, whereas others were more vocal in their support of women's choices. Most recognized that women want healthy infants but were divided in how that responsibility was acted upon. The analysis of the interviews yielded six themes. The women described being offered the screening test, how they made the decision whether to be tested or not, and how they felt while waiting for the test results. They described how the results were communicated to them and how they felt on learning the results of the test. Finally, the women clarified their thoughts on the way screening is offered.

Nurses must continue to inform women of the many and varied choices available to them. Nurses also must be respectful of women's decisions and recognize the problems inherent in making any kind of screening mandatory.