Who chooses to have the HIV antibody test in the antenatal clinic?

With the increase in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seroprevalence amongst antenatal clinic attenders, and given that current medical opinion considers it desirable that a woman is aware of her serostatus, it has been recommended that the HIV test is offered to all women in the antenatal clinic and that its uptake is monitored. This paper reports on the uptake rate during the 12 months to February 1990 at a central London hospital, which was 17%, and the characteristics of the women who agreed to be tested for HIV. Using information collected by the midwife on an interactive computer during the 'booking' interview, it was found that women who were single and not in a stable relationship (p < 0.001) and those who described themselves as Mediterranean (p < 0.01) were more likely to accept the test. Caucasian women (p < 0.05) and married women (p < 0.05) were less likely to accept the test. Accepters did not differ from decliners in any other variable examined. Possible reasons for these differences are discussed.