Rate of Couple HIV Testing in a Prenatal Care Clinic and Factors Associated with Refusal of Testing Among Male Partners

Figures & data

Table 1 Baseline Characteristics of the Studied Couples

Baseline Characteristics	Pregnant Women N = 400	Partners N = 400
Age (mean, SD)	28 years (SD 5.52)	31.58 (SD 7.34)
Education
Primary school	5 (1.3%)	21 (5.3%)
Secondary school	149 (37.3%)	125 (31.3%)
Vocational certificate	90 (22.5%)	129 (32.3%)
Undergraduate or graduate	156 (39.0%)	125 (31.3%)
Occupation
Unemployed	109 (27.4%)	17 (4.4%)
Government official	34 (8.6%)	68 (17.4%)
Officer	148 (37.3%)	168 (43.1%)
Private business	76 (19.1%)	84 (21.5%)
Farmer	5 (1.3%)	13 (3.3%)
Temporary employee	24 (6.1%)	40 (10.3%)
Average income (per month; median [P25-75th percentile])	13,000 baht [0–20,000]	15,000 baht [11,500–23,000]
Average Income (per day)
<300 baht/day	128 (32.2%)	128 (32.2%)
≥300 baht/day	270 (67.8%)	270 (67.8%)
Reactive/positive serology testing result	(N = 400)	(N = 150)
VDRL	3 (0.8%)	0
HBV	2 (0.5%)	0

Abbreviations: VDRL, Venereal Disease Research Laboratory; HBV, Hepatitis B Virus.

Table 2 Baseline Characteristics of the Current Pregnancy Status

Baseline Characteristics	Pregnant Women (N=400)
Marital status
Certificated and cohabitating	164 (41%)
Certificated but separated	11 (2.8%)
Not certificated cohabitating	210 (52.5%)
Not certificated and separated	15 (3.8%)
Duration of relationship (yrs. mean ± SD)	5.3 ± 4.9
History of sexually transmitted infection	28 (7.1%)
Contraceptive use before the current pregnancy
No contraception	153 (38.3%)
Condom	21 (5.3%)
Intrauterine device	4 (1.0%)
Contraceptive pills	190 (47.5%)
Injection	35 (8.8%)
Implant	5 (1.3%)
Others	5 (1.3%)
Sterilization	2 (0.5%)
Emergency pills	2 (0.5%)
Contraceptive patch	1 (0.3%)
Primi-gravidity	180 (45%)
Unplanned pregnancy	60 (15%)
GA at first visit ANC (mean±SD)	10.2±5.2

Abbreviations: GA, gestational age; ANC, antenatal care.

Table 3 Couples HIV Testing and HIV Infection Rates

Rate of Testing	Couple(s) (%)	95% CI
Couples screening	150 (37.5)	32.82, 42.55
Anti-HIV positive in women	2 (1.3)	0.16, 4.73
Anti-HIV positive in men	4 (2.7)	0.74, 6.78
Discordant infection	4 (2.70	0.74,6.78
1. +ve women and –ve men	1 (0.7)	0.02, 3.71
2. – ve women and +ve men	3 (2.0)	0.42, 5.81

Table 4 Partners’ Reasons for Refusing to Undergo HIV Testing

Partners’ Reasons for Refusing to Undergo HIV Testing	N = 250 (%)
He already knew his HIV status.	94 (37.6%)
He had recently undergone HIV testing before her current pregnancy.	44 (17.6%)
He could not take time off from work.	42 (16.8%)
He thought that neither he nor his partner was at risk for HIV infection.	37 (14.8%)
He worked or stayed far away (other provinces or abroad)	10 (4%)
He was afraid of needles.	9 (3.6%)
He thought that the testing was not necessary.	8 (3.2%)
He planned to undergo HIV testing at his local hospital.	3 (1.2%)
Divorce	3 (1.2%)

Table 5 The Factors Associated with Couples Refusing to Undergo HIV Testing

Risk Factors	OR	95% CI	Adjusted OR	95% CI
Teenage pregnancy (Maternal age < 20 yrs.)	1.06	0.40–2.99	0.82	0.27, 2.53
Low socioeconomic status (daily income < 300 baht)	2.05	0.52–11.76	2.64	0.53, 13.15
Undergraduate education
Participants	0.88	0.57–1.37	0.74	0.44, 1.23
Partners	1.15	0.73–1.82	1.32	0.77, 2.25
Unstable marital status	0.99	0.64–1.52	0.91	0.59, 1.43
Late ANC First visit ANC > 20 wks.)	0.91	1.33–2.63	0.75	0.28, 2.00
History of STD infection	0.61	0.01–47.92	0.84	0.05, 13.78
She had had another partner in the past.	1.78*	1.13–2.84	1.75*	1.10, 2.77
Multi-gravidity	1.38	0.89–2.10	1.42	0.93, 2.17

Note: *p-value < 0.05.

Abbreviation: STD, sexually transmitted infection.