Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2026
An Affordable HIV-1 Drug Resistance Monitoring Method for Resource Limited Settings
Published on: March 30, 2014
Predictors of rapid HIV testing acceptance and successful nevirapine administration in Zambian labor wards
Karen M Megazzini1, Namwinga Chintu, Sten H Vermund
1School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA. kmegazzini@gmail.com
Background:
Provision of HIV testing in labor provides an opportunity to reach susceptible women and infants.
Methods:
As part of a cluster randomized trial of labor ward-based prevention of mother-to-child transmission services in Lusaka, Zambia, we determined predictors of testing acceptance and nevirapine (NVP) administration in labor. HIV counseling and testing were offered to women unaware of their HIV status. NVP was administered to women who tested positive, and an inert (calcium) tablet was provided to women who tested negative, to avoid stigmatization.
Results:
Among the 2435 women who presented in labor, 393 (16%) were unaware of their HIV status, of whom 278 (71%) met eligibility criteria. We offered counseling to 217 (78%) of eligible women: 146 (67%) agreed, 82 (56%) of those counseled were tested for HIV, and 23 (28%) were seropositive. Testing rates were higher among primigravida women [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.5; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1 to 2.1] and among those not offered HIV testing during their pregnancy (AOR 3.7; 95% CI: 2.8 to 5.1). Cervical dilation
Conclusion:
Labor ward HIV testing is feasible in this resource-limited setting.
