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Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique logoLink to Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique
. 2003 Mar 1;94(2):93–97. doi: 10.1007/BF03404579

Prenatal HIV Testing in Ontario

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Prenatal Care Providers in a Province with Low Testing Rates

Dale Guenter 13,✉, June Carroll 23, Janusz Kaczorowski 13, John Sellors 13
PMCID: PMC6980225  PMID: 12675163

Abstract

Objective: To describe the knowledge, attitudes and practices of prenatal care providers in relation to prenatal HIV testing.

Methods: A stratified random sample of 784 family physicians, 200 obstetricians and 103 midwives providing prenatal care in 3 health planning regions in Ontario received a questionnaire.

Results: Response was 622/1087 (57%). Almost half of participants (43%) were not aware of Ontario’s prenatal HIV testing policy. Eighty-five percent of participants reported that they offered or ordered HIV testing for all pregnant women. Sixty-six percent agreed that women should have a choice about whether to test or not, and midwives were more supportive of having an informed consent process than were physicians.

Conclusion: Knowledge about the risks and benefits of prenatal HIV testing needs to be improved, and standards for informed consent should be re-evaluated to achieve the most ethical process with the least complexity.

Footnotes

This study was supported by the AIDS Bureau, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care

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