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The evidence for a change in antenatal HIV screening policy in Australia
Author(s) -
Giles Michelle L,
Hellard Margaret E,
Lewin Sharon R,
Mijch Anne M
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2006.tb00535.x
Subject(s) - medicine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , antenatal screening , psychological intervention , family medicine , antiretroviral therapy , pregnancy , population , environmental health , nursing , viral load , genetics , biology
Australia is one of the few developed countries without routine antenatal HIV screening, despite having the resources to undertake such a screening program and the availability of antiretroviral therapy. National policy recommends that only women with identified risk factors should be offered testing; however, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists recommends that all pregnant women be offered HIV testing as part of their antenatal care. Knowledge of a womanˈs HIV status during pregnancy allows interventions to improve her health and reduce the risk of transmission of HIV to her child. A universal antenatal HIV screening program meets many of the Wilson and Jungner criteria for population‐based screening programs. This should be considered in the current review of Australiaˈs HIV testing policy.