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. 1998 Apr;88(4):637-40.
doi: 10.2105/ajph.88.4.637.

Informed consent for HIV testing in a South African hospital: is it truly informed and truly voluntary?

Q Abdool Karim  1 , S S Abdool Karim, H M Coovadia, M Susser
Affiliations

Informed consent for HIV testing in a South African hospital: is it truly informed and truly voluntary?

Q Abdool Karim et al. Am J Public Health. 1998 Apr.

Erratum in

  • Am J Public Health 1998 Jun;88(6):972

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess informed consent to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing in a perinatal HIV transmission study in a major referral hospital serving a largely Black population in South Africa.

Methods: First-time antenatal clinic attenders who were randomly selected from those enrolled in the perinatal HIV study (n = 56) answered questionnaires before and after counseling.

Results: Knowledge of HIV transmission and prevention, high at the outset, was little improved after counseling. The acceptance rate for HIV testing was high. Despite assurances that participation was voluntary, 88% of the women said they felt compelled to participate in the study.

Conclusions: Informed consent in this setting was truly informed but not truly voluntary.

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