HIV risk and testing behaviors among pregnant women tested for HIV in Florida by site type, 2012

ABSTRACT

The numbers of perinatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections in the United States have continued to decline, but the prevalence of female adults and adolescents living with diagnosed HIV infection continues to rise. Opportunities still exist to prevent mother-to child HIV transmission. The objective of this study was to identify demographics, HIV risk, and testing behaviors among pregnant women and to compare these characteristics by HIV testing site type. Multivariable analyses were conducted to examine demographics, HIV risk, and testing behaviors among 24,836 records of pregnant women publicly tested for HIV in the state of Florida in 2012. The testing records indicated that Latina and non-Hispanic black (NHB) women had decreased odds of reporting partner risk compared to those from non-Hispanic white women (Latina: adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.20, 95 percent confidence interval [CI]: 0.14–0.28; and NHB AOR 0.14, 95 percent CI: 0.10–0.21), and women tested in prisons/jails had higher odds of reporting previous HIV testing compared to those tested in prenatal care sites (AOR 1.86, 95 percent CI: 1.03–3.39). An understanding of HIV risk and testing behaviors among pregnant women by site type may enhance current targeted testing and prevention strategies for pregnant women and facilitate timely linkage to care.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV testing
• human immunodeficiency virus
• mother-to-child transmission
• perinatal
• pregnant women