[HIV screening of pregnant women in Norway]

Abstract

The prevalence of HIV infection among pregnant women is low in Norway (4.5/100,000). HIV screening has been offered on a routine basis in antenatal care since 1987. 96% of all pregnant women are screened for HIV. After the introduction of the screening programme, effective treatment (zidovudin) has become available to pregnant women. This treatment reduces mother-to-child transmission of HIV by two thirds. By screening all pregnant women during a period of two years (95% confidence interval 1-6 years), transmission can be reduced to one child if the HIV positive women are offered and accept treatment. According to a review presented here, doctors and midwives involved in antenatal care do not seem to have good enough routines for giving women information about the screening test and for offering informed choices.