Background: Although the United States has made progress in reducing the transmission of HIV from mother-to-child, it has not yet met the goal of reducing such transmissions to 70%. Self-reported HIV testing varied by state of residence. Approximately, two in three women reported that their health care provider asked them about HIV testing during prenatal care, and 82.3% of those asked reported receipt of a test.
Objectives: The aim of this study was (1) to examine the prevalence of receipt of an HIV test during pregnancy and (2) to examine differences in HIV testing during pregnancy by race/ethnicity, state of residence, and other sociodemographic characteristics.
Design: Population-based surveillance of women with a recent live birth from seven US states. Individuals were sampled from birth certificate records 2-6 months postpartum and surveyed about their behaviors and experiences before, during, and shortly after pregnancy.
Methods: Data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, a large, population-based survey, were used to estimate the prevalence of HIV testing during pregnancy during 2016-2019. Weighted prevalence estimates and 95% confidence intervals were calculated overall and by demographic and other selected characteristics.
Results: Approximately two-thirds of women (66.1%) self-reported having a test for HIV during pregnancy. Prevalence varied by maternal characteristics and was highest among women who were non-Hispanic Black (80.7%) and among women who were aged ⩽ 24 years, had a high school education or less, were unmarried, or had Medicaid or no insurance for prenatal care (each > 70%). Self-reported HIV testing varied by state of residence. Approximately two in three women reported that their health care provider asked them about HIV testing during prenatal care, and 82.3% of those asked reported receipt of a test.
Conclusion: About one in three Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System respondents did not report an HIV test during pregnancy. Health care providers can help educate pregnant patients about the importance of HIV testing and ensure universal testing to help identify individuals needing treatment and reduce the rates of mother-to-child HIV transmission.
Keywords: HIV; HIV testing; Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System; pregnant women; providers; social determinants of health; women.