Abstract:
Background: With the introduction of the opt out HIV
testing policy in Ghana, the HIV test is offered routinely
to all pregnant women unless they decline testing.
Objective: To assess acceptability of the routine offer
of HIV testing antenatal clinic (ANC) clients in the Wa
municipality, Ghana.
Design: Cross-sectional study of 270 randomly selected
ANC attendees.
Results: More than 90% of respondents were in favour
of the opt-out policy. The most commonly cited reasons
were that it would help pregnant women know
their status and facilitate prevention of mother to child
transmission of HIV (PMTCT). About 60% of respondents
had tested for HIV in the current pregnancy with
more than 90% reporting that the test was offered them
in a manner in which they could have refused the test.
HIV testing in the current pregnancy was associated
with having heard of the opt-out policy (p <0.001) and
awareness that the test was offered at the facility (p <
0.001), but there was no relationship with educational
level. Out of the 112 clients who had not had HIV test
in the current pregnancy, 61.8% claimed the test had
not been offered to them while 82.4% expressed willingness
to have the test done if offered.
Conclusion: The opt-out HIV testing policy is acceptable
to the pregnant women surveyed in the Wa municipality.
A well laid out process to ensure that all
pregnant women are routinely offered HIV testing at
the ANC may help minimize missed opportunities for
utilizing PMTCT services.