4209.0: Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - Table 4

Abstract #26292

Design of a needs-assessment to determine the culturally-specific needs of pregnant women to prevent perinatal transmission of HIV in California

Elizabeth T. Montgomery, MHS1, Rhonda Kropp, RN2, David W. Hill, MPH1, Barbara Sullivan, RN1, Juan Ruiz, MD, MPH3, and Yvonne A. Maldonado, MD1. (1) Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Cypress Hall e-11, 550 Via Ortega, Stanford, CA 94034-4049, (2) Department of Infectious Diseases, University of California, Berkeley, , rkropp@uclink4.berkeley.edu, (3) California Department of Health Services, Office of AIDS

Objective: Needs assessment to identify service gaps and develop culturally competent interventions for prevention of perinatal HIV transmission in five diverse California counties.

Methods: 1) Semi-structured survey of pregnant/ recently delivered (£6 months) women; 2) Anonymous survey of prenatal care (PNC) providers; 3) Focus groups with pregnant/ recently delivered (£ 6 months) sub-populations; 4) Analysis of birth certificate data; 5) Medical record review.

Results: Needs assessment ongoing. Preliminary results from women’s survey (n=1046) show that 84.4% have been tested at some point in their lives, but only 74.0% report being offered a test in PNC, as is mandated by State law. 89.5% then agreed to take the test, the majority (92.1%) did so “for my health/ health of my baby”. Preliminary providers’survey results (n=48) show that 89.5% claim to offer counseling and 91.5% claim to offer HIV testing to >90% of their prenatal clientele. Two-fifths of providers estimate that >90% of women then accept the testing, another third estimate that 75-90% of women accept. Focus group data demonstrate differing experiences with, and knowledge of, voluntary counseling and testing (VCT). Birth certificate data profiled women who are at higher risk of receiving no PNC, and therefore no VCT, as Hispanic, under 24, and having less than high school education, although the degree of severity differs across counties. Medical record review has not started yet.

Conclusions: This needs assessment offers diverse perspectives on pregnant women’s experiences with VCT/ PNC. This is a useful model for the design of culturally appropriate prevention interventions.

See oaprevention.homestead.com/cover.html

Learning Objectives: N/A

Keywords: HIV Interventions, Women and HIV/AIDS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Stanford University
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 129th Annual Meeting of APHA