Routine voluntary antenatal anti-HIV screening in Bangkok, Thailand

The following recommendations are made as a result of this study. 1. Routine voluntary screening for HIV infection in all pregnant women is feasible and worthwhile. 2. Every seropositive result should be repeated for confirmation before coming to a definitive conclusion to avoid a misdiagnosis. 3. Routine screening of seronegative pregnant women should be repeated during the third trimester to detect seroconversion since this offers a chance for AZT administration to the seroconverted pregnant women for reduction of perinatal transmission. 4. There should be available the appropriate back up services for seropositive pregnant women such as: (i) C--Choice. Having been appropriately counselled the pregnant women should be able to terminate or continue with the pregnancy. (ii) H--High-risk pregnancy concept. The pregnant women should be treated as high-risk cases. Throughout their pregnancy and delivery only experienced personnel should manage them. (iii) I--Integrated services. From our experience it would be reasonable to integrate the care of seropositive pregnant women with any other high-risk cases. Special or anonymous clinics may create an atmosphere of uneasy feelings among the women who could be made to feel alienated and discriminated against. (iv) P--Provision of care. Comprehensive services must be available. These include an experienced counselling team, adequate laboratory services, services for safe first and second trimester therapeutic abortions, appropriate facility in the delivery suite (including Caesarean section) for infected cases, and dedicated paediatricians.