Unknown Antenatal HIV-Infection Status Has Declined Over Time in British Columbia, Canada

The objective was to determine whether the proportion of pregnant women with unknown antenatal HIV-infection status is declining over time in British Columbia (BC) and whether associated factors are amenable to intervention.

Through a retrospective cohort study of all deliveries in the British Columbia Perinatal Data Registry from 2005 to 2011, we examined the association between year of delivery and no recorded antenatal HIV test result. The trend in unknown antenatal HIV-infection status over time was evaluated by the Cochran-Mantel-Haenzsel test and multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the odds of unknown antenatal HIV-infection status by year of delivery.

A total of 299 771 deliveries were included; 9.1% had unknown antenatal HIV-infection status with a declining trend from 12.7% to 5.5% from 2005 to 2011 (P <0.0001). Adjusted for maternal age, parity, gestation, and number of antenatal visits, pregnant women were 64% less likely to not have antenatal HIV testing in 2011 compared to 2005 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.36; 95% CI 0.34-0.38). The odds of no antenatal HIV testing were 54% higher in multiparous compared to primiparous women (aOR 1.54; 95% CI 1.49-1.58), and each additional antenatal visit reduced the odds of no antenatal HIV testing by 8% (aOR 0.92; 95% CI 0.92-0.93).

The declining trend in unknown antenatal HIV-infection status in BC is encouraging. Consistent with Canadian and BC HIV testing guidelines, further strengthening of routine testing at the first antenatal visit in all pregnancies irrespective of previous HIV testing, particularly in multiparous women, could achieve universal pregnancy HIV testing in BC.