Hepatitis B and HIV antenatal screening 2: user survey

Bruce, Maggie, Peacock, Janet, Iverson, Angela and Wolfe, Charles (2001) Hepatitis B and HIV antenatal screening 2: user survey. British Journal of Midwifery, 9 (10), 640-645.

Abstract

This survey was undertaken to ascertain pregnant women’s knowledge of hepatitis B and HIV infection before the introduction of universal antenatal screening for these infections. Information was also obtained on women’s awareness of the antenatal tests currently offered, whether they felt they had sufficient information to give informed consent to hepatitis B and HIV testing and whether they would have accepted the latter if it had been offered to them. Of 120 pregnant women who were asked to take part, 100 (83%) agreed to fill in the questionnaire. It was found that women knew less about hepatitis B than HIV. While 37% of women felt that they had sufficient information to give informed consent for hepatitis B screening, 66% would have accepted hepatitis B testing if it had been offered. In contrast 69% felt that they had sufficient information to give informed consent for HIV screening, but only 48% would have accepted HIV testing. Only 7% of women were fully aware of the current tests offered; while 44% were aware that testing for syphilis was routine, 22% incorrectly believed that toxoplasmosis screening was included in the routine tests. The results of this survey influenced the subsequent hepatitis B and HIV antenatal screening programme.

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