Coverage of HIV testing among pregnant women in Catalonia, Spain: A comparison of self-reporting with medical records

Background: to estimate the coverage of HIV testing during pregnancy in Catalonia, to identify factors associated with testing during pregnancy and to assess the recording of screening in medical records and the women's awareness about being tested. Methods: A survey was carried out in 2000 among pregnant women attending hospital, with face-to-face interview 24–48 hours post-delivery, and review of the medical records. Results: Out of 2,132 participants, 76% were from public and 24% from private hospitals. Medical records showed that 88.3% of the participants had a HIV test (94% in public, 71% in private hospitals), while for 3.7% and 18.5% in private and public, respectively, this information was not documented. Overall, 67% of women reported having been tested for HIV during that pregnancy, and unawareness of having been tested was detected in 10.7%. Educational level and prenatal care are determinants for being tested. Conclusion: Catalonia has a good coverage of HIV testing among childbearing women, although it is lower in private hospitals. Frequently prenatal HIV testing is not documented in medical records and women are unaware of it. Improving the prenatal care and tailoring these programmes to specific populations, like migrants or marginalized groups, will result in a better understanding of HIV prevention and in an increase in HIV testing before delivery. Received 13 June 2002. Accepted 12 May 2003.